Magic: the Gathering

Chronicles, Volume 28

Zendikar was pretty much how Viktor had expected it to be, judging from the rather stunning illustrations he had seen for Zendikar-block lands. He, Makoto, and Epsilon were on a rocky slope just above a forest line, and nothing here was normal. The trees in the underlying forest were gigantic, with deep green leaves and twisting branches and exotic birds flitting among the leaves. The clouds overhead were towering cumulonimbus, booming with unspent lightning and threatening rain.

The most telling sign they were on Zendikar was that a line of pristine hedrons hovered in a line to the west, a row of huge constructs that acted like a barrier against the Eldrazi threat. The hedrons here were shaped like two tall, square-based pyramids attached at the bases, with several smaller protrusions poking out of their sides to act like barbs. These hedrons floated in a line over a hundred feet in the air, stretching from one end of the horizon and all the way down the other end, fading into the distance like a vast fence.

"Don't those hedrons act like a prison or something for the Eldrazi?" Makoto asked as Viktor led the way up the rocky slope, making sure to avoid loose rocks and hellion nests along the way.

"Yeah. They all moved into place to trap the aether titans once they awoke," Viktor recalled. "But they don't entirely work because the Eldrazi are still rampaging around unchecked, and some of them are Enslaved. We've got to be ready."

"Always ready," Epsilon agreed tensely, gripping the handle of his ivory sword.

Once he found an even patch of ground, Viktor summoned his Fighting Drake, allowing it to settle onto the ground with its curving talons and yawn widely, stretching its blue scaly neck. Viktor and the others climbed on board, the Drake hissing and rumbling from sensing a Hunter on its back.

"It's okay, girl. Just take flight, he won't hurt you," Viktor reassured the beast, stroking the blue scales on its neck. The Fighting Drake cocked its head and then took flight, forcing Viktor to hang on to not get thrown off. A steady wind buffeted him as the Drake flapped its wings to get up the slope and reach an expedition camp up ahead.

"How do you know this thing's a girl?" Makoto shouted over the wind.

"I don't actually know!" Viktor yelled back, grinning. "I just like the sound of it better."

Within a minute, the Drake had reached the expedition camp, settling on the ground and folding up its wings. A number of large beasts had been lured here by the Drake, but one screeched warning from the Drake sent the animals scampering, leaving Viktor, Makoto, and Epsilon free to disembark and meet the explorers here to find Chandra.

The camp was made up of a number of large, tough-fabric tents along with some two-story wooden structures for group discussions, even a tavern with a pair of oversized hellion barbs over the doorway instead of deer antlers. The hard, chitinous barbs curved menacingly, but were rendered harmless since they were severed from their owner who knows how long ago. The tavern seemed to be the most promising place to find information, so Viktor "parked" his Fighting Drake outside the building, encouraging the beast to settle down and rest, but keep vigil if any Enslaved creatures showed up. Then, Viktor pushed open the tavern door and led Makoto and Epsilon inside.

An arrow was the first thing to greet Viktor, the metal tip hissing through the air and nearly hitting him on the head. He yelped and ducked, not even having time to cast a defensive spell such as Oakenform or Vine Trellis. Instead, the projectile thudded into the closing door behind him, the wooden shaft quivering from the leftover energy. Epsilon gave the arrow a distasteful look, not appreciating the surprise attack launched on his newly formed ally.

"What was that for?" Viktor cried while covering his head with his hands, seeing that the various elf, human, and Kor mercenaries and explorers in the room had all risen to their feet, weapons drawn. Various sell-swords and trekkers all glared at the tree newcomers, caution and alertness sharp in their eyes. The launcher of the arrow was a long-haired elf man in thick leather and iron armor, standing near the fireplace with his elaborate bow drawn. A magically enhanced explorer wolf rested near his feet, the beast's eyes intent.

"Who are you three? Tell us now!" a particularly tall Kor swordsman demanded, stomping forward and pointing a long, pale finger at Viktor. He had various red and blue hunter's markings on his tall, thin face, along with a leather headdress with beads and feathers and fancy trek boots on his feet. And, of course, two long, sheathed swords on his belt. Viktor was sure that the Kor could draw those twin blades and behead him in a heartbeat.

"We are allies of the Planeswalkers, committed to the cause of bringing about Elena the Defiled One's downfall," Viktor announced at an attempt at bravery, seeing that no one's forehead here bore the green diamond mark of Enslavement. The various explorers and warriors in here all looked relieved, lowering their weapons and sighing with relief. The Kor muttered his thanks to the Kor gods, then looked apologetic.

"Please accept our apologies, friends," the Kor swordsman said sincerely, taking a few steps forward, the beads on his headband jingling together. "Too many blights have stricken us recently, and we are at the end of our ropes. Some foul magic has seeped across the lands, warping the minds of all it touches, be it beast or man. Those who fall for it act... unlike themselves. They seem to obey a larger, unseen power and have strange diamond marks on their foreheads, like a tattoo that cannot be removed. Jace Beleren has told us in passing that it's the work of a woman named Elena the Defiled One, who comes from lands beyond Zendikar and threatens them all."

The Kor swordsman ran a finger across his own blank forehead, and Viktor's suspicions were conformed. The Enslavement process has spread to Zendikar, too, and it's making everything chaos. Then, there's those guys who are running around. Let me ask. "Sir, is there any other problem you're experiencing? Anything else to drive you brave explorers into shelter like this?" Viktor noted that the windows were all closed and reinforced, as though expecting monsters to storm the place. Various booby traps had been set under the windows, too, as well as the back door.

The Kor soldier's face twisted in anguish and anger. "Yes, young sir. The gods have awakened, but they were not what we thought they would be! Great gray titans have arisen from the earth in droves, annihilating all in their path. First those despicable drones appeared, mindless things that shepherd ever smaller critter-drones. Then, with their collective power, they summoned and unleashed the biggest monsters of them all. Some have taken to calling them 'Eldrazi', but no matter what you call them, they are here to ruin everything, and our best defenses are little before them."

"I knew it," Viktor muttered, turning to Makoto and Epsilon as the other warriors in the room muttered their own curses against the Eldrazi and the loss of their loved ones. "Guys, we've got Enslaved creatures, Eldrazi, and one missing Chandra. Any ideas?"

"Perhaps we could offer the bravest explorers here a chance to help the best hope they have against the Eldrazi?" Epsilon suggested. "They are not true warriors if they huddle in this tavern."

"Though we may have to prove our strength to them to convince them to help us," Makoto added, and Viktor and Epsilon agreed. Viktor turned to the others.

"We alone are the hope for Zendikar and the entire Multiverse against the Enslavement and the Eldrazi. Aid us, and hope will return. Elena's hordes and Eldrazi are a serious threat, but the Planeswalkers and I are united against her, and we will stand a chance of victory if only you are to help us."

"Ha!" a dwarf sell-sword laughed. "Skinny children like yourselves? And the blond man behind you – is he a wandering king? Fancy robes won't win you any close fights, good sir!"

"He underestimates me, and you both as well," Epsilon commented, stepping forth. "This is not a time to squabble! Perhaps a demonstration of force is needed? Without any killing, of course. Our numbers are too few as it is."

"So! A challenge?" the Kor swordsman smirked, stepping forth and placing his hands on his dual sword handles. "You three are friendly, but helpful remains to be seen. Prove your worth, and we will help you!"

As he finished speaking, the Kor swordsman unsheathed his twin blades and leaped into action, moving forward and spinning blindingly fast as his swords whipped through the air. Epsilon was quick to defend himself, his own ivory sword flashing into action and catching the Kor's blades in mid-strike. Not done yet, the Kor swung his blades free and attacked from two different angles at once, a move that would cripple most opponents with the Kor's speed and grace behind those blades.

Epsilon, however, was no ordinary opponent. Epsilon's sword blocked the Kor's left sword, and Epsilon stood on one foot to block the other blade with his raised foot. Without wasting a second, Epsilon pushed a massive effort into his ivory blade, wrenching the Kor's left sword out of his hand and sent it clattering across the floor. The Kor retreated his other sword and swung it as rapidly as he could, Epsilon's own ivory sword moving with equal speed as the two warriors moved in a deadly dance, their feet working across the floor. Then, the Kor made a too-long thrust, leaving his flank vulnerable. Epsilon kicked the Kor's haunch, sending him sprawling backwards. Before he could do anything else, Epsilon yelled "Freezing Attack Level 1!" and the blue-white spell trapped the Kor. Then, Epsilon pounced forward and rested his sword's tip against the Kor's throat, as a sign of victory.

The Kor breathed heavily, his sweaty neck twitching has he swallowed nervously, his eyes roving down to the blade that could take his life in one move. "I concede," he wheezed. "Well done, my friend."

"Nothing to it," Epsilon nodded, undoing the Freezing Attack and helping the Kor swordsman back onto his feet. "But what of the children? They have no weapons."

"We're mages, of a sort," Viktor grinned, holding up his Assault Zeppelid card and summoning the creature. The Simic flyer ballooned into existence, the green-blue creature taking up half the tavern and startling all the explorers. The animal hissed and rumbled its hunger, the 3/3 flyer trampler eager to battle. Then, Makoto's Silverstorm Samurai proved his own worth, the armored fox samurai watching the explorers with narrowed, intent eyes as they gripped the handles of their katanas.

"I know not what magic this is, but I am impressed," the Kor swordsman nodded his approval, a wide grin spreading across his face. He spread his arms wide. "Travelers! We have good friends in these three. Who will help them conquer the Eldrazi and Elena's minions?"

"Chandra tried to stop them, but she went missing," someone shouted. "Can these guys succeed where she failed? She's a Planeswalker, one of the best. Even Sorin and Nissa are wary around her."

"Damn you! We are trying to get some good done here, you runt!" the Kor swordsman bit back. "Who will help?"

"I'll do it," someone offered, standing up. He wore typical plate armor and travel gear, but half of his head was wrapped in bandages and rags, going down to his eyes. "I know the way."

"Juram? You're still hurt! Those drones don't play nice," an elf warrior cautioned him, and Viktor assumed that the bandaged man, Juram, had tangled with Eldrazi drones a while back. Well, they certainly weren't helpless; Emrakul's Hatcher and Kozilek's Predator were both solid 3/3's.

"No. I must," Juram insisted, stepping forth. Viktor noticed that he had a rather pointed and beak-like nose and a hard, pointed chin and wide mouth, making him look a little like a goblin even though he was clearly human. "Please. These three need our help, and I can give it better than any of you."

"Always the sharp-tongue," the Kor swordsman muttered, but he relented with a wave of his hand. "Very well, Juram. Lead them on. May the gods watch over you, even if they have abandoned the rest of us."

"Got it. Let's go, guys," Juram said briskly, shouldering past Viktor and the others to exit the tavern. "I'm well-familiar with these rocky wastes, so stay close. Be ready to summon more of those creatures of yours if need be."

"Indeed," Viktor agreed, returning his Assault Zeppelid to its card as Makoto did the same with his Silverstorm Samurai. Viktor gathered up Makoto and Epsilon to follow Juram, eager to finish this business on Zendikar before any really nasty Eldrazi decided to show up.

*o*o*o*o*

"Gah! I can barely keep my eyes open!" Devin cried, scrubbing his eyes as Rho's fairy pollen continued to fall from the sky. "So... so tired."

"Use some of that red-green vitality, Devin!" Ashley encouraged her friend, but she and Kelly were in as much trouble as he was. Rho drifted down to them on her insectoid fairy wings, a smile across her face as she flitted over to Devin and cupped his head in her hand, leaning close to peer into his eyes.

"Hello, young man," she breathed, half-closing her eyes and caressing the side of Devin's face. "How would you like to go to the land of dreams with me? Would you do that for me?"

"Aaaaaugh... uh-huh? What's th-thuh land of d-dreamsh? I dunno..." Devin mumbled stupidly, his tongue going numb. He panted to keep himself awake with extra oxygen, but Rho's spell was too strong.

"Don't worry, dearest. Just relax, and I can take you right there," Rho told him sweetly, drawing back her let arm and focusing blue and green mana there, swirling and smoke-like. "And here we..."

"Get away from him, you bitch!" Kelly shouted angrily, snapping out of her stupor in sheer anger and charging at Rho. However, the smaller fairy that had been seen earlier was back, a smaller version of Rho. The little fairy gripped Kelly's hair, painfully halting her in place.

"You've got such nice hair, lady," the little Rho crooned. "Would you like to give it to Master Rho as a gift? Would you?"

"I'll give it to you when I'm dead!" Kelly roared, her Final-Sting Faerie bursting to life from her card and impaling the tiny Rho with its lancer sword. The black 2/2 faerie buzzed in place, eager to defend its master Kelly.

"Devin! Are you -" Kelly started, but she was too late; the little Rho had distracted her long enough for Rho's spell to take full effect, and now she was wrapping Devin in a pulsing, semi-transparent green cocoon, with dark blue veins throbbing along its sides. Devin was helpless as he was enveloped, his arm and legs flailing uselessly until he was overcome, his body going limp and his mind being wrenched from his body by the cocoon's effect.

"What... what did you do?" Ashley cried, terrified. "You didn't...?"

"I didn't kill him, dearest," Rho assured her, flitting back into the air, her arms lowered at an angle for balance. "I merely took him to my Land of Dreams. There, he will die. You may fight me until then! None of us want to sit around bored while the young man fights for his life."

"Fights for his life? What do you...?" Kelly breathed, going pale as she watched Devin's limp body slump to the bottom of Rho's cocoon, now starting to twitch and jerk.

Rho threw her head back and laughed; Kelly was reminded of some villainess from a cartoon, perhaps, but this was deadly real. "That boy will be fighting in his head!" Rho exclaimed, her bare feet hovering over the ground. "Illusory fairies are my most potent kind, and if he cannot defeat them all then his real body will register his mind's death and follow suit! No spell of yours can puncture that cocoon and reach him."

Kelly's throat tightened in fear, unsure whether Rho's cocoon was truly unbreakable or not and whether Devin could handle whatever effect it was having on him. Either way, Ash and I've got to do something fast!

"Oh ho ho! You're only watching me. Perhaps that is best. We can sit back and watch while your friend struggles for his life in my Land of Dreams -" Rho started, turning to watch Devin twitch in the cocoon. She was cut off when Kelly's Vicious Hunger scorched by, the sizzling dark purple mana scraping her left cheek. Rho wheeled back around, fury twisting her features as she flared out her wings to climb higher into the air.

"You dare do this to me?" Rho hissed, spreading her arms wide to attack.

"I dare. Care to do something about it?" Kelly challenged her, drawing a few select cards out of her card stack and preparing to use them, Ashley doing the same. They could already tell that fighting Rho would be a little different from fighting the other Hunters.

*o*o*o*o*

"This place... is a real pain to climb!" Viktor wheezed, feeling his lungs and legs ache as he trundled up the rocky terrain while following Juram's lead, aware that Makoto was just as tired as he was, although Epsilon's Hunter toughness kept him from getting fatigued. Juram was getting slightly ahead, easily scaling the treacherous rock climbs and slopes.

"Hurry, you three! We're not quite there yet, but Chandra did disappear around here. Hang on."

"I'll... try," Viktor wheezed, grabbing hold of a rock outcropping to hoist himself up, but the rock piece came loose in his hand and he lost his balance. Epsilon was quick to catch him, the Hunter's normal-looking body contrasting with his incredible and unshakable strength.

"Careful, Viktor," Epsilon warned him, not unkindly as he helped Viktor get over the rock cliff, then helped Makoto up too.

"Remind me why we aren't flying up on a creature?" Viktor called up to Juram, aware that he had unsummoned his Fighting Drake before leaving the expedition camp.

"Because such magic would draw too much attention to ourselves," Juram called back over his shoulder. "Eldrazi drones and native elementals have been fighting each other around here, but they'd both attack us if we made our presence known. Keep your card-based magic restrained until we find Chandra's whereabouts. Once we're close to her, we'll be found anyway."

Sounds fair, Viktor figured, but he was getting antsy, aware that Ashley, Devin, and Kelly had to deal with that blue-green fairy Hunter back on Dominaria, and knew that Elena was gathering strength with every passing second. This Juram guy had better show us some results soon!

"Ah ha. Here we go!" Juram panted with victory, placing his hands on his hips as he turned his head to nod at a moderate-sized cave set against the mountain wall. It was dark in there, very dark.

"Did she wander in there and get lost?" Makoto wheezed, doubling over. "If so, we'd better be careful. Lots of traps, I bet."

"Traps?" Juram grinned, turning to face him. "Why, we've already triggered one! Well, you guys did." He traced a finger along his mouth, his toothy grin widening. "My memory manipulation made those explorers think that I was Juram the Traveler, but not so! I am me!"

"Huh?" Viktor panted, unsure what the explorer was on to. He was getting a bad feeling, and it was confirmed when Juram reached up and tore off his head bandages, revealing a thumb-sized emerald on his forehead. "You –!"

"Now you know, kiddos!" Juram cackled, stepping back into a combat posture and raising his arms. "I am Sigma, one of Lady Elena's newest Hunters. Trap... successful! Raaaaaaah!"

"Get back!" Epsilon hissed, darting forth and tugging Viktor and Makoto back before Sigma released an earth-rumbling blast of mana, and the three had to fight to stay on their feet. Sigma tore off his traveler armor, revealing blue and red gentleman's clothing underneath as his blue-red mana aura flared up to full strength. Sigma had poofy blue and red streaked pants, his feet encased in bright copper boots with various gears and small pipes along their surfaces. On Sigma's upper body was a rich blue gentleman's coat, parted to reveal his fancy red shirt underneath. With his full head revealed, Viktor saw that Sigma's hair was electric blue and flowed backwards, standing up as though he had touched an electrical outlet. His eyebrows were bright red and very long, extending off his head in a shallow V like moth antennae.

"Needless to say, he's blue-red like the Izzet," Viktor commented to Makoto and Epsilon. "I'm betting on a lot of trickery spells from him."

"Not to mention that thing!" Makoto added with fear, pointing. Viktor suddenly remembered that every Hunter he had seen bore a unique weapon to fight with. Gamma had wielded a pike, Epsilon here had his ivory sword, Delta had used brass knuckles, Beta had had a scythe attachment on his armor, and he could only guess what Alpha liked to use. Kappa's whole body had been his weapon, and Theta and Omega had each wielded half a broadsword, and those halves had combined to an unblockable magical broadsword called Soul Drive.

Now Viktor could see what Sigma's signature weapon was. The blue-red Hunter raised his left arm, and mana swirled around his forearm and materialized into his weapon, a solid barrel-like copper tube that encased his whole forearm from the elbow to his wrist. The attachment was cylindrical and round, reminding Viktor of the arm attachment he had seen on the Izzet Guildmage on that creature's card. Sigma's arm attachment had several brass tubes flowing from the back to a series of five circular depressions along the side, looking like sockets. Several gears were set on the other side, ticking and whirring and turning each other in smooth repetition.

"So! How do I look? Ah hahaha!" Sigma cackled in glee, placing his fists on his hips and starting to dance in place, his feet kicking and shuffling about in an elaborate dance while Sigma panted his time signature, concentrating.

"Is this guy... serious?" Makoto muttered into Viktor's ear, watching the blue-red Hunter continue to tap dance in place, ignoring his enemies.

"Let's test and see," Viktor whispered back. "Epsilon, back us up. It's time to get rough."

The green-white-blue Hunter nodded his agreement, and the three set into motion. Viktor charged ahead first, his Llanowar Behemoth erupting into existence and charging, the wooden elf siege engine rushing at max speed. Makoto followed up, his Battle-Mad Ronin charging alongside the Llanowar Behemoth, then Epsilon himself rushed alongside these two creatures. Makoto's Unnatural Speed card accelerated the attackers, and his Yamabushi's Flame provided cover fire, washing Sigma in flames.

"Oh? I have visitors," Sigma noted, then thrust forth his right hand palm-out, a blue-red spell charging up. Then he shouted, "Little Clock Slug!"

At once, a gigantic clock face burst into existence, a 2-D ghostly image that stood upright like a wall, with Epsilon, the Llanowar Behemoth, and Battle-Mad Ronin going right through it. As soon as the clock appeared, a deafening clock ticking sound shuddered in Viktor's ears: CLANK-TOCK! CLANK-TOCK!

"Argh! What's he doing?" Makoto shouted over the noise, clapping his hands over his ears. Covering his own ears, Viktor saw that the clock's hands were spinning backwards as the two clank-tocks sounded, and more importantly, the ghostly clock face was having an effect on the three attackers. As soon as they passed through the clock, the Llanowar Behemoth, Battle-Mad Ronin, and Epsilon all slowed down to almost a crawl, all their movements creeping at an agonizing pace.

"Ah hahaha! It worked! Look, guys, it worked!" Sigma shouted his joy before zooming forth in a streak of blue and red, raising his left arm. A sword blade shot out of the attachment just above the hand, and he swung it in a wide arc to decapitate the sluggish Battle-Mad Ronin, the Samurai unable to move in time even though Makoto pumped more of his red-white mana into it. Sigma leaped from the dead Ronin to the slow-moving Llanowar behemoth, sliding the sword back into his attachment and producing a huge drill. The drill was wide at the base as the arm attachment was, covering Sigma's whole hand as the drill spun at high speed and whined in the air. Sigma jumped forward and plowed the drill into the Llanowar Behemoth, blasting it apart like a miner striking gold.

"Epsilon! Watch out!" Viktor shouted, casting his ever-reliable Fighting Drake to help. The blue animal zoomed forth to help, but a second Little Clock Slug intercepted the Drake, this one just big enough to capture the Drake with a loud CLANK-TOCK! CLANK-TOCK!

"Not good enough!" Sigma shouted his triumph, watching the Drake fly super slowly through the clock face, helpless. By now, however, Epsilon had recovered from the first Little Clock Slug, regaining his normal speed and swinging his ivory sword at Sigma as hard as he could, making the blue-red Hunter's eyes widen in shock.

"Whoa! That one almost hit me, traitor!" Sigma grinned as he raised his arm attachment, withdrawing the drill and bringing back the sword to block Epsilon's own ivory blade. The two Hunters' faces drew close as their blades struggled against each other's. "Why fight me, a fellow Hunter? Why are you with the children now, Epsilon? You've even got Gamma's powers in you now! Don't waste them with those mewling, card-toting babies!"

"You are probably not even a week old!" Epsilon snarled, pushing his blade extra hard against Sigma's sword attachment, forcing the blue-red Hunter back. Epsilon stood in place, flourishing his sword. "Begone, foul thing. We are here to find Chandra, and the Key Creatures are beyond your ability to capture! Flee."

Sigma adjusted his footing, prepared to spring away. "Ah hahaha! Me, run? I was born only to destroy you and give Elena at least a chance to prepare should I fail that task. Problem is... I ain't gonna fail. I'm gonna do this!"

Sigma placed his fists back on his hips, his feet once again working their skitter dance, but this time he whistled a tune to match, his daring eyes not leaving Epsilon.

"We are going to have to adjust our strategy here, Viktor, Makoto," Epsilon gritted as he returned to them, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder at the tap-dancing Hunter in the near background. "If we just charge, he'll use that Little Clock Slug attack again."

"And I bet he has a version that speeds up whatever goes through it, too," Viktor added. "Maybe to use on himself?"

"You got it, kid! My Little Clock Rocket!" Sigma called over, resuming his whistling.

"So, we're going to show some guts and beat this guy at his own game," Viktor added, determined. "Epsilon, you've got Gamma's freezing powers, plus your own swordsmanship and plant army. If we all coordinate well enough, this guy's tricky magic won't hold us off forever."

Makoto nodded. "Let's hope so."