Chapter VIII
Thalalok parried the attack perfectly. Blade's sword slid off Thalalok, which went out to block the next attack.
Gorin's strong leg came up and snapped out. Blade's sword was too slow to block. Blade tried jumping backward, but fell on his back.
Before anyone could do anything, Link screamed at them.
"What are you doing?! You only met a minute ago, and you're already fighting!"
Gorin put his foot down and Thalalok away. Blade stood, but sheathed his sword. Phoenix (somewhat reluctantly) put away his sword.
The fight had drawn watchers from the crowd. Some seemed disappointed when the three put away their weapons, but a few seemed relieved.
"Now," said Link, "we first have to find out how we got here."
The Najibreza, which now numbered forty, returned from their latest and greatest (so far) accomplishment. They had obtained both the shadow and fire medallions. Those were the last two.
The process of summoning their master, though, would require massive sacrifice on their part. Thirty-eight of them, to be exact. Even with their master at full power, he would need help conquering. Two Najibreza, though powerful, weren't enough.
The thing was, they could regenerate their numbers. One swim in the magical water of the Zora River, and they might be able to obtain thirty more.
The forty decided on it. Thirty-two would conquer so much more easily than two…
Diurdom's forces assembled. Those warriors must not be allowed to return to the river. His strategists told him that was probably how they increased their numbers and regenerated.
All of them, an even five hundred thousand, were assembled, forming a living barricade winding around the river. There could be no way the warriors could get through to the river without passing through them. Plus, the very nature of the line was that word could get by swiftly, so once the warriors were sighted they could be surrounded. At a distance, of course. He didn't want too many losses, and they were reported to do better when facing groups.
Off in the distance, a mass of flowing blue was sighted.
The Najibreza saw the barricade. Immediately, they formed together. The Odentians had no idea of their true fighting power.
Rasoginim prepared immediately. The Darksphere told him of the turmoil in Hyrule. He would use it to his advantage.
His new airship was readied. He could been in Hyrule in less than five minutes.
The Odentians prepared, some drawing etinabols, some sprouting claws.
The mass of blue rushed forward.
A massive, well, thing darkened the sky. It blotted out the sun, something seemingly appropriate for a battle between evils.
Odentians and Najibreza alike stared at the sky-thing. It was huge.
Suddenly, everything seemed a lot darker. The sky-thing was shining off darkness, in addition to blotting out the sun.
Some Najibreza took advantage of that, as they possessed darkvision, and knew the Odentians did not. In a minute or so, almost a hundred of the Odentians died. Their death was instant, as well, so the others were unaware.
But in a second, more than darkness was emanating from the shape. Death was as well.
Rasoginim laughed. It was so easy to kill these people. It took only thirty seconds before everyone in Hyrule had dropped suddenly dead. They had no magical resistance about them at all.
The Darksphere was being overtaxed, slightly. But it would only be two hours or so before it was returned to full power. And he only needed it for one more task.
Ninel knew nothing of dimensional transportation. But she did ask if Gorin knew anything more about the mark on his hand.
"What mark?" Link asked, curious.
Gorin showed him.
Immediately, Link ripped off his left gauntlet. He put his hand near Gorin's.
"They're the same," he exclaimed, wondrous. "But you have Power and Wisdom."
"What do you mean?" Gorin asked.
Link explained quickly about the Triforce and its parts. "Ganondorf, the one who had Power, is dead. So I guess it would go to someone, though it is kind of weird that it went to a Zyriachan and not a Hylian. But Zelda had Wisdom…" He shuddered. "My dream—it was true—when the gate…" His voice trailed off.
"I guess it would go to you because at that time, the only Hylians alive were the Sages and me… But did you get that symbol all at once, or did you get the same one but only the top was gold first?"
"I got it all at once," Gorin replied.
"I don't know then. But—"
Link's voice was cut off. He doubled over in pain, clutching his left hand. Gorin did the same.
When the pain finally stopped, the Triforce symbol was gone.
"Something's happened," Link managed to gasp out. "Someone has the Triforce, the whole thing."
After a minute or so, the four left Ninel's house and headed to the militia center.
A quick explanation later, the four were joined by three half-dragons. The seven then set off for Gyrdia.
It took only a minute of Blade and Phoenix's explanations before the seven were joined by eight.
The fifteen then headed for Gyrdia's training center.
Blade was teaching Link and Gorin some sword moves, while a few of the Zyriachans were teaching some of the Gyrdians the basics of unarmed combat. Phoenix, some of the Gyrdian sorcerers, and some of the Zyriachan sorcerers were teaching each other magic spells.
Blade decided that Link and Gorin had graduated to sparring. He called it sparring and not fencing because he encouraged both of them to use other kinds of attacks, not just swords.
Gorin started out with a quick front kick, which Link backflipped. Link brought his sword up in the same fashion he had with that Odentian, but Gorin was too smart. He jumped back.
Link didn't halt for a second, but instantly drew his bow and took out an arrow. He aimed and shot…
Gorin had jumped to the side. Link didn't try the bow again, but put it away. Before Gorin and Blade found out what link was about to do, a deafening boom and a blinding flash stopped the combat.
When Link recovered his sight and hearing, he saw a Gyrdian standing near the entrance to the training ground.
"You're needed, right now. The Assassi Nation is invading!"