Bloody Dawn, Chapter 3: Facing an Army| note: This part won't be very funny. For one thing, I've been advised against it by a few people, and for another, unless you're seriously deranged like me, war isn't very funny. On with the story! Kain ran forth, iron sword drawn and fangs bared, into the fray. He watched as a Mijjitz fell before him in a bloody heap at the hands of a clawed gas demon. It hissed at him and Kain ducked, just barely avoiding the spew of acidic mist. He crawled forward and plunged the sword straight into the monster's green hide. It howled in anger as black blood spilled from the wound, and brought its arm down- an arm that had a razor- sharp edge on it. Kain was almost hit, but he took the opportunity to sever the arm clean off. The demon shrieked an ear-piercing cry of pain and swiped at Kain with the blunt edge of its other arm. Kain grunted as he was knocked off his feet and skidded across the ground. He muttered a few mystical words while leaning on one arm, and a bolt of energy shot from his outstretched hand and struck true in the beast's gaping maw. The back of its head exploded in muscle and black gore as the felled monstrosity toppled to the ground. Kain charged forth once more with new resolve. "Vae victus!" he cried above the din as he brought his blade through the back of an unsuspecting black demon. It groaned in agony and fell atop the Mijjitz it was engaged in melee with. A bolt of lightning slammed into him and knocked him off his feet, leaving an acrid metallic taste in his mouth. Kain got to his feet and glared at the black demon that had blasted him; the foul beast was crackling with electricity, charging up for another attack. Kain summoned his Repel spell, and a shimmering blue barrier rose around him. The lightning bolt struck the barrier and reflected back at the attacker, electrocuting him on the spot. His sharp vampiric ears picked up a sound from behind and he brought the blade up for a parry. Another massive green claw struck the blade with crushing force and shattered it. Shards of metal sprayed across the ground, and Kain's eyes burned with a deep loathing. "You dare?!... Soul Reaver, I summon thee!" Kain spat, and instead of the iron sword, the deadly Soul Reaver appeared in his hands. The pommel to the hilt was a steel rod wrapped in cloth. The hilt, however, was distinctive- it appeared as a winged skull with vampire fangs, no lower jaw, and a malevolent stare. The blade itself was over 4 and a half feet long, waved and serpentine, and made of a dark metal. The blade crackled with energy and howled with ravenous anticipation. The beast seemed to regret its move and backed away, too late. Kain swung the Reaver and it struck true. There was a strange crackling, howling sound, and the beast exploded in an instant. Such is the power of the Reaver- any being with the misfortune to meet its blade has the soul rent from its body. Kain laughed like a madman with an axe, like a pothead who thinks the phone's ringing when he drops his keys. He leapt forward to the next demon, an immense red beast whose very footsteps left fire in their wake. He landed on its back, and the monster screamed with rage; Kain sank the blade into its throat and it dissipated. Kain was already making great advancement to the Demon Gate. Hacking and slashing and reaving his way through the onslaught of demons, up until about a stone's throw from the Pillars. At that point, Viosar teleported in with a loud *BAMF*. "Viosar, what are you doing here?" Kain queried. The vampire replied, "I have come to inform you on how to destroy the gate. You will be needing this." He produced from his robes a small duck toy. Kain picked it up and it squeaked. "What is this? How will this help?" "Don't you know? Demons LOVE rubber duckies. Just put it in the gate, they'll be drawn to it, and they will be too occupied to do anything!" Kain sighed and yelled at the top of his lungs, "HEY! DEMONS! RUBBER DUCK OVER HERE!" And with that he hurled the duck toy straight into the gate. The demons jerked their heads over and ran screaming for the gate. When the last of them had gone through, the black nexus closed upon itself. "Well, at least all that's over." Kain sighed. (.on the other side of the gate.) Amidst all the swirling blackness, the fiery rain, and the crazed laughter of a thousand damned souls, a group of about 200 demons of various sizes and colors crowded around a small yellow duck toy. They seemed to praise and worship it. Off in the distance was a massive effigy, a statue made from blood and bone. And that statue was just vaguely duck- shaped. The End. ::::What in God's name was I thinking when I wrote that ending? Ah, well. It was pretty good, all in all, wasn't it?::::