Dystrin and Zaren walked into the throne room as the last minotaur
demon fell before them, blood coercing out of the hole in it's chest. The
young barbarian that had decided to join them and the two necromancer's
minions followed them in soon afterward. Baal stood up on his throne, a
shield of souls spinning around him. The demon's head tilted sideways and
he grinned. As he did, two souls from the shield around him flew at Zaren's
minions. They burst apart and pieces scattered everywhere. Dystrin took
several steps toward him.
"Your brothers fell at my hand, and so shall you," said the paladin bravely.
"I think someone would like to argue with you on that point" said the demon motioning behind them. They all turned around to see a misshapen form in blood-red full-plate armor and two huge spine covered demons walk in. "Let me introduce you," laughed Baal, "meet Bartuc the Bloody, and my two loyal servants."
Zaren and the barbarian Vorard innately took a step backward. Dystrin turned back to the demon lord only to see Baal disappearing threw a portal. He ran after the great demon and dived into the portal just as it closed.
Zaren started chanting, and Vorard readied his swords as Bartuc and the Minions of Destruction marched toward them.
************************************************************************
Dystrin rolled to his feet as he hit the ground on the other side. He looked around and dodged behind a pillar as a bolt of unholy energy flew toward him. It crashed into the wall sending little pieces red stone flying everywhere. He immediately prayed to the heavens for the strength and speed he would need to win this battle. A red-orange glow started to surround his body.
'Diablo was the strongest of them, it only figures that his brother should be easier to defeat' Dystrin told himself.
"Don't forget mortal, my brother was weak at the time you fought him," said Baal, "he had only been in that body for a few months. I have possessed this body for centuries."
"That won't stop my blade from cleaving your black heart out demon!" yelled the paladin.
He ran out from behind the pillar and saw Baal standing in front of the worldstone. It's mystical red glow only overpowered by the dark aura Dystrin saw pouring from the Lord of Destruction. That is the gift Dystrin obtained from the Archangel Tyrael, to see into the soul and tell friend from foe. Baal's soul was pure black, with a red edge. This meant he was evil and he was hostile.
Dystrin charged at the demon, but as he lashed out with his enchanted sword the demon teleported.
"How can you kill something you can't touch?" the demon spat. Dystrin jumped out of the way as a wave of frost energy was directed his way. It hit a pillar to his left and froze it.
"You'll have to do better than that" the paladin said jumping sideways just in time to dodge another energy bolt.
Baal grinned evilly and started chanting. Dystrin ran forward, intent on stopping the demon from finishing his spell, only to be thrown back upon the spell's completion. He had been but a step away when the fiery energy rocketed from the demon body in all directions. Dystrin had put his shield up just in time to stop the hellfire from reaching him. His shield, even with its holy enchantment, was disintegrated.
"Block this you worm!" roared the demon as he charged a ball of black energy and threw it at the paladin. Dystrin again jumped sideways but this time, as he watched the projectile, it turned and flew right back in his direction again. He held out his left hand and began to pray. The ball smashed into the paladin's hand sending him flying backward. Baal was laughing but stopped when Dystrin returned to his feet, a ball of black energy covered in a white light barrier in his hand.
************************************************************************
Zaren had cast a few offensive spells at Bartuc, but found she soon only had enough time to try and counter all of his spells. Vorard had been valiantly fighting the two spine covered beasts, but he was soon put on the defensive as well. It went on that way for a while, and Zaren and Vorard were slowly pushed backward. Then a crystal Zaren had picked up in the arcane sanctuary started to glow.
A voice sounded throughout the room and all the spells and fighting ceased. "My brother, Bartuc, what do you seek in the death of these mortals." The crystal floated up eye level with Zaren; "They couldn't possibly stop Baal, could they?"
"Horazon stay out of this, you know nothing," Bartuc growled, "I will kill you soon enough."
"Very well brother, if you want to finish this the hard way" the voice from the crystal said. Small bolts of electricity flew out of the crystal toward Zaren. Before she could even react the bolts had hit her and the crystal was embedded in her forehead. "You and I brother, we have become very much like the demons we gained our power from," spoke Zaren in a voice that didn't belong to her, "yet you are the one who sided with them."
Zaren's hand elevated to eye level and two powerful bolts of lightning shot out. They turned the huge ugly demons that were fighting the barbarian into spiny piles of boiled blood and scalded flesh. Bartuc, to retaliate, raised his hand and summoned forth a pillar of flame that slammed into the barbarian, turning him to ashes. It almost reached Zaren who could feel its heat, but just like before the presence inside of her took control and counter spelled it.
"Well now, we will see who is the greater shall we?" said Bartuc.
"You will be disappointed," the strange voice said, "It will not turn out in your favor." Then the battle between the brothers began, and Zaren was helplessly dragged into it.
************************************************************************
Dystrin threw the energy globe back at the surprised demon. Baal again teleported, reappearing next to the worldstone. The orb smashed into the wall and exploded, destroying the nearest pillar.
"I see you didn't come unprepared," said Baal, "it wont help you, for you can barely battle me alone, how are you going to battle two of me?" Dystrin, hearing something behind him, looked. There he saw Baal; he looked back and forth for a second between the two demons then cursed.
He rushed at the clone, who was closest, and started hitting it as fast as his blade would travel. He had sliced it in several places when suddenly he was picked off the ground. A bunch of snake-like appendages had grabbed his arms and legs and lifted him off the ground. The clone he had been fighting slowly froze solid and melted, due to the enchantment on Dystrin's weapon.
He was slowly turned around by the appendages to face the real Baal. "You are becoming quite an annoyance mortal," the demon said.
"Good, anything to hinder you," said Dystrin in a harsh whisper due to the tentacle wrapped around his mid-section. He had been stuck a few times by the clone and was bleeding from several slashes across his face and broken chest armor.
"An annoyance that I am now going to rid myself of," Baal hissed. Then he raised his arm, the many tentacle-like fingers glowing with unholy energy, ready to strike the paladin down.
************************************************************************
The battle between the brothers raged on for quite a while, each brother appeared to be equal to the other. Horazon, however, while being not as good in close quarter combat proved to be the greater summoner. His abilities in that area were enhanced by Zaren's power, since he inhabited her body. Soon Bartuc was overwhelmed by demons and undead creatures of all kinds and was ripped to shreds, his soul sent back to hell along with his blood red armor.
The crystal removed itself from Zaren's forehead and she collapsed to the ground. "Hurry along child, your friend is in trouble," the crystal said. The portal that had been previously closed was open again.
Zaren stood up and watched the crystal for a brief second before disappearing through the portal to save her friend.
************************************************************************
'I did what I could' Dystrin told himself as he watched the demonic fist start its decent to kill him. As it got within a foot of its target area, however, a magical lance of bone slammed into it. The appendages dropped the paladin and he rolled away from the demon. He returned to his feet in time to see Zaren summon two more bone spears to pierce the demon lords body, then she dived behind a pillar to avoid a massive ball of flame.
Dystrin took his chance; he ran up behind Baal and shoved his glowing sword into the hellish creature's back. The demonic howl that rang form Baal's mouth caused all the walls to crack and the nearest pillars to crumble. Dystrin was thrown back against the wall and most of his armor fell from his body in small pieces.
Baal turned to the paladin and started toward him. He could feel his back slowly freezing, so he reached around quickly and pull the sword free. That blade was replaced by another, poisonous, one. He rounded on the attacker, only to find that it was a clay golem holding a ceremonial dagger. Baal could feel the toxins spending quickly threw his body, quickly deteriorating it.
He ripped the golem apart and turned to the paladin, determined to at least kill him before dying himself. A bone wall erupted in the area between him and the paladin, and Baal turned the see the necromancer that the paladin had been traveling with standing ten feet behind him. He went to charge her, but instead stumbled with a sudden weakness. His vision hazed and he saw three necromancers standing in front of him.
He began throwing all sorts of magic at the necromancer. But she easily dodged his magic due to bad aim. Before long his spirit was as drained as his body and with one last spell, he collapsed. Baal's dark soul floated up out of the dead body and returned into the soul stone.
Zaren walked over and picked the yellow, glowing stone up. Dystrin limped over to her.
"Well, I guess we have one more trip to make eh?" said the necromancer looking at the stone.
"Yeah, I guess," said Dystrin, and then the entire chamber began to shake.
"How do we get out of here?" asked Zaren.
"I can help with that," a mystical voice said. They both looked up to see Tyrael floating down. "Thank you, my friends, the world owes you a great debt, but I shall have to destroy the worldstone regardless of your efforts. Baal's touch has corrupted the stone, and if not destroyed it will open the gates of hell, and the world will belong to its evil lords. I will take Baal's soul stone and destroy it along with the worldstone." Zaren gave him the stone and Tyrael created a portal for them to travel through.
"I know not how this will change your world, but I can only hope it is for the better. Goodbye my friends." A portal opened up a couple feet away.
"Goodbye Tyrael," said Dystrin and he turn to the portal. Zaren just waved and followed the paladin.
************************************************************************
"Do you think that Tyrael could have put us any farther away from civilization?" Zaren asked sarcastically.
Dystrin looked at the mountain they were climbing down. "Well we ended up in that barbarian village, but you wanted to get away from them a fast as possible so here we are."
"Blame it on me then, if it makes you feel more superior" Zaren said, pouting.
Dystrin walked up to her, "Oh dark one, how could I ever feel more superior to such a." he stopped.
"A what?" she said looking up at him curiously.
"A," he stopped again smiling, "a snob." He then backed away from her laughing.
"A what!" she yelled, her face turning red. She didn't wait for an answer; she tackled him. This began a long roll down the mountainside and into history.
************************************************************************
Thanks to my reviewers FENIXguy, Zerglinster, Chaos Wolf, Mega- Obskira, Dark-Elk, and Familiar_Face. I hope you enjoyed this part as you did the first.
"Your brothers fell at my hand, and so shall you," said the paladin bravely.
"I think someone would like to argue with you on that point" said the demon motioning behind them. They all turned around to see a misshapen form in blood-red full-plate armor and two huge spine covered demons walk in. "Let me introduce you," laughed Baal, "meet Bartuc the Bloody, and my two loyal servants."
Zaren and the barbarian Vorard innately took a step backward. Dystrin turned back to the demon lord only to see Baal disappearing threw a portal. He ran after the great demon and dived into the portal just as it closed.
Zaren started chanting, and Vorard readied his swords as Bartuc and the Minions of Destruction marched toward them.
************************************************************************
Dystrin rolled to his feet as he hit the ground on the other side. He looked around and dodged behind a pillar as a bolt of unholy energy flew toward him. It crashed into the wall sending little pieces red stone flying everywhere. He immediately prayed to the heavens for the strength and speed he would need to win this battle. A red-orange glow started to surround his body.
'Diablo was the strongest of them, it only figures that his brother should be easier to defeat' Dystrin told himself.
"Don't forget mortal, my brother was weak at the time you fought him," said Baal, "he had only been in that body for a few months. I have possessed this body for centuries."
"That won't stop my blade from cleaving your black heart out demon!" yelled the paladin.
He ran out from behind the pillar and saw Baal standing in front of the worldstone. It's mystical red glow only overpowered by the dark aura Dystrin saw pouring from the Lord of Destruction. That is the gift Dystrin obtained from the Archangel Tyrael, to see into the soul and tell friend from foe. Baal's soul was pure black, with a red edge. This meant he was evil and he was hostile.
Dystrin charged at the demon, but as he lashed out with his enchanted sword the demon teleported.
"How can you kill something you can't touch?" the demon spat. Dystrin jumped out of the way as a wave of frost energy was directed his way. It hit a pillar to his left and froze it.
"You'll have to do better than that" the paladin said jumping sideways just in time to dodge another energy bolt.
Baal grinned evilly and started chanting. Dystrin ran forward, intent on stopping the demon from finishing his spell, only to be thrown back upon the spell's completion. He had been but a step away when the fiery energy rocketed from the demon body in all directions. Dystrin had put his shield up just in time to stop the hellfire from reaching him. His shield, even with its holy enchantment, was disintegrated.
"Block this you worm!" roared the demon as he charged a ball of black energy and threw it at the paladin. Dystrin again jumped sideways but this time, as he watched the projectile, it turned and flew right back in his direction again. He held out his left hand and began to pray. The ball smashed into the paladin's hand sending him flying backward. Baal was laughing but stopped when Dystrin returned to his feet, a ball of black energy covered in a white light barrier in his hand.
************************************************************************
Zaren had cast a few offensive spells at Bartuc, but found she soon only had enough time to try and counter all of his spells. Vorard had been valiantly fighting the two spine covered beasts, but he was soon put on the defensive as well. It went on that way for a while, and Zaren and Vorard were slowly pushed backward. Then a crystal Zaren had picked up in the arcane sanctuary started to glow.
A voice sounded throughout the room and all the spells and fighting ceased. "My brother, Bartuc, what do you seek in the death of these mortals." The crystal floated up eye level with Zaren; "They couldn't possibly stop Baal, could they?"
"Horazon stay out of this, you know nothing," Bartuc growled, "I will kill you soon enough."
"Very well brother, if you want to finish this the hard way" the voice from the crystal said. Small bolts of electricity flew out of the crystal toward Zaren. Before she could even react the bolts had hit her and the crystal was embedded in her forehead. "You and I brother, we have become very much like the demons we gained our power from," spoke Zaren in a voice that didn't belong to her, "yet you are the one who sided with them."
Zaren's hand elevated to eye level and two powerful bolts of lightning shot out. They turned the huge ugly demons that were fighting the barbarian into spiny piles of boiled blood and scalded flesh. Bartuc, to retaliate, raised his hand and summoned forth a pillar of flame that slammed into the barbarian, turning him to ashes. It almost reached Zaren who could feel its heat, but just like before the presence inside of her took control and counter spelled it.
"Well now, we will see who is the greater shall we?" said Bartuc.
"You will be disappointed," the strange voice said, "It will not turn out in your favor." Then the battle between the brothers began, and Zaren was helplessly dragged into it.
************************************************************************
Dystrin threw the energy globe back at the surprised demon. Baal again teleported, reappearing next to the worldstone. The orb smashed into the wall and exploded, destroying the nearest pillar.
"I see you didn't come unprepared," said Baal, "it wont help you, for you can barely battle me alone, how are you going to battle two of me?" Dystrin, hearing something behind him, looked. There he saw Baal; he looked back and forth for a second between the two demons then cursed.
He rushed at the clone, who was closest, and started hitting it as fast as his blade would travel. He had sliced it in several places when suddenly he was picked off the ground. A bunch of snake-like appendages had grabbed his arms and legs and lifted him off the ground. The clone he had been fighting slowly froze solid and melted, due to the enchantment on Dystrin's weapon.
He was slowly turned around by the appendages to face the real Baal. "You are becoming quite an annoyance mortal," the demon said.
"Good, anything to hinder you," said Dystrin in a harsh whisper due to the tentacle wrapped around his mid-section. He had been stuck a few times by the clone and was bleeding from several slashes across his face and broken chest armor.
"An annoyance that I am now going to rid myself of," Baal hissed. Then he raised his arm, the many tentacle-like fingers glowing with unholy energy, ready to strike the paladin down.
************************************************************************
The battle between the brothers raged on for quite a while, each brother appeared to be equal to the other. Horazon, however, while being not as good in close quarter combat proved to be the greater summoner. His abilities in that area were enhanced by Zaren's power, since he inhabited her body. Soon Bartuc was overwhelmed by demons and undead creatures of all kinds and was ripped to shreds, his soul sent back to hell along with his blood red armor.
The crystal removed itself from Zaren's forehead and she collapsed to the ground. "Hurry along child, your friend is in trouble," the crystal said. The portal that had been previously closed was open again.
Zaren stood up and watched the crystal for a brief second before disappearing through the portal to save her friend.
************************************************************************
'I did what I could' Dystrin told himself as he watched the demonic fist start its decent to kill him. As it got within a foot of its target area, however, a magical lance of bone slammed into it. The appendages dropped the paladin and he rolled away from the demon. He returned to his feet in time to see Zaren summon two more bone spears to pierce the demon lords body, then she dived behind a pillar to avoid a massive ball of flame.
Dystrin took his chance; he ran up behind Baal and shoved his glowing sword into the hellish creature's back. The demonic howl that rang form Baal's mouth caused all the walls to crack and the nearest pillars to crumble. Dystrin was thrown back against the wall and most of his armor fell from his body in small pieces.
Baal turned to the paladin and started toward him. He could feel his back slowly freezing, so he reached around quickly and pull the sword free. That blade was replaced by another, poisonous, one. He rounded on the attacker, only to find that it was a clay golem holding a ceremonial dagger. Baal could feel the toxins spending quickly threw his body, quickly deteriorating it.
He ripped the golem apart and turned to the paladin, determined to at least kill him before dying himself. A bone wall erupted in the area between him and the paladin, and Baal turned the see the necromancer that the paladin had been traveling with standing ten feet behind him. He went to charge her, but instead stumbled with a sudden weakness. His vision hazed and he saw three necromancers standing in front of him.
He began throwing all sorts of magic at the necromancer. But she easily dodged his magic due to bad aim. Before long his spirit was as drained as his body and with one last spell, he collapsed. Baal's dark soul floated up out of the dead body and returned into the soul stone.
Zaren walked over and picked the yellow, glowing stone up. Dystrin limped over to her.
"Well, I guess we have one more trip to make eh?" said the necromancer looking at the stone.
"Yeah, I guess," said Dystrin, and then the entire chamber began to shake.
"How do we get out of here?" asked Zaren.
"I can help with that," a mystical voice said. They both looked up to see Tyrael floating down. "Thank you, my friends, the world owes you a great debt, but I shall have to destroy the worldstone regardless of your efforts. Baal's touch has corrupted the stone, and if not destroyed it will open the gates of hell, and the world will belong to its evil lords. I will take Baal's soul stone and destroy it along with the worldstone." Zaren gave him the stone and Tyrael created a portal for them to travel through.
"I know not how this will change your world, but I can only hope it is for the better. Goodbye my friends." A portal opened up a couple feet away.
"Goodbye Tyrael," said Dystrin and he turn to the portal. Zaren just waved and followed the paladin.
************************************************************************
"Do you think that Tyrael could have put us any farther away from civilization?" Zaren asked sarcastically.
Dystrin looked at the mountain they were climbing down. "Well we ended up in that barbarian village, but you wanted to get away from them a fast as possible so here we are."
"Blame it on me then, if it makes you feel more superior" Zaren said, pouting.
Dystrin walked up to her, "Oh dark one, how could I ever feel more superior to such a." he stopped.
"A what?" she said looking up at him curiously.
"A," he stopped again smiling, "a snob." He then backed away from her laughing.
"A what!" she yelled, her face turning red. She didn't wait for an answer; she tackled him. This began a long roll down the mountainside and into history.
************************************************************************
Thanks to my reviewers FENIXguy, Zerglinster, Chaos Wolf, Mega- Obskira, Dark-Elk, and Familiar_Face. I hope you enjoyed this part as you did the first.