"Darkness Rising"
Xacabard.
The Master's followers couldn't believe the carnage they saw when they teleported to the telepoint in Xacabard. The snow on the ground had turned bloody red, bodies of dead Elvaans strewn across the snowy plains of Xacabard. Demons had massacred the Elvaan soldiers stationed at the outpost. As they slowly went down the stony stairs of the telepoint, the Master's followers, war hardened Elvaans; the best of the best, fear began to seep their minds. Demons lined up the whole path towards Castle Zvahl. Even if the Master had assured them the demons wouldn't harm them, they still feared for their safety. The telepoint crystal started to shine and the Master arrived. Beside him was Icon lying in a stretcher, still deep in slumber. The Master ordered four demons to carry the stretcher towards the castle. The Master's followers, who had never step foot inside the castle, had never seen such an eerie place in their lives, which made them fear even more. The Master let out a silent chuckle and told them not to be afraid. After going through several telepoints inside, they finally arrived at the heart of the castle, the Throne Room. The Master ordered Icon to be place at the center of the room. Then he ordered the demons to leave, leaving him and eight of his followers inside the room.
"I have waited for this moment for the past 200 hundred years or so. Soon I will have the power, the power that has eluded me all these years." the Master said as he surveyed the Throne Room. "Has Umbra arrived yet?"
"Yes Master, I have arrived." replied Umbra as she walked through the door.
"Did you succeed in the task I sent you to do?"
"Yes Master, I have. She is outside." replied Umbra.
"Good, good. A little insurance is a good thing." the Master said smiling.
"Master, I still have apprehensions on what you are about to do." Umbra said.
"No need to worry." the Master replied. He then told Umbra the tale he told Icon days before. "Now you understand why I cannot pass on the power to you."
"I am sorry for doubting you Master. Forgive me. What if he cannot control the dark power he will possess?"
"He will. Have faith my dear Umbra. It is time"
The Master walked towards the center of the room where Icon lay. He took out the dark crystal which contained the life essence of the Shadow Lord. The crystal started to glow wildly as the Master held it above Icon. He then chanted a spell in a language Umbra could not understand. The crystal suddenly flew from the Master's hand towards Icons heart, piercing the skin and striking his heart. A dark light started to glow from where the crystal entered Icon, soon consuming his entire body with a dark energy sphere, and then a dark swirling light exploded upwards towards the sky destroying the ceiling above. Umbra and the Master's followers were mystified by what they had witness. They haven't seen such sorcery like this in their entire lives. Soon they heard chanting outside. They looked outside and saw a sea of demons had gathered down below the throne room. They could not understand what the demons were chanting, but it seemed the demons could feel the power of the Shadow Lord in their midst.
The Master had backed off and strode towards Umbra after the dark energy spiraled upwards to the sky. They could not see what was happening inside the energy field in the center of the room where Icon lay. "What is happening Master?" asked Umbra.
"Icon is absorbing the crystal's power I think. Before when I tried to possess the Dark Lord's power I used another spell. The spell I cast todayis different from the one I used." answer the Master. For another 30 minutes the swirling dark energy surrounded Icon's body until it finally stopped and exploded, knocking everyone in the room down. As they recovered from the blast they looked up and saw Icon was now levitating. His eyes were glowing with dark energy. Dark crackling energy could be seen flowing all over Icon's body. It was done. Icon had become one with the crystal. Icon woke up from his slumber and saw he was levitating. He now felt different. There was something inside of him, something so powerful. "What have you done with me?" Icon asked staring at the Master.
"You are now a God. The Shadow Lord's power has been reborn in you. The prophecy is fulfilled. You have risen to bring darkness to this land." the Master answered smiling, seeing his dream finally come true.
As Icon's feet touched the ground as he descended, he suddenly felt a great pain all over his body. He buckled down from the pain, body curled on the floor shaking. The Master ordered two of followers to help Icon up. As the Elvaans tried to help him up, the Elvaans shouted in pain when Icon used their arms as support to stand up. They were shaking violently, screaming in pain as Icon held their arms. Umbra could see energy flowing between the Elvaans and Icon. After a few seconds the Elvaans slumped down the cold floor, their bodies decayed. Umbra was shocked at the sight of dead Elvaans.
"Master, what has just happened?" Umbra asked.
"It seems the Shadow Lord's power, kept so long inside the crystal craved for sustenance. When Icon touched the Elvaans arms, he feed on their life force killing them in the process. I hadn't expected the power inside the crystal had to feed. We can use that to our advantage." the Master replied.
Icon had recovered from the pain and slowly opened his eyes. He felt better after the two Elvaans helped him up. He turned around to look for the Elvaans who helped him and was horrified at the sight of the Elvaans dead bodies. He looked at his hands and streaks of dark energy seemed to crackle here and then. "What happened to them?" Icon pointed at the Elvaans.
"The power in you hungered for sustenance. That was why you were in so much pain. When you touch them you sucked their life force out of them and the pain inside you went away." the Master replied.
Icon was in shock after hearing the Master's explanation. He angrily pointed at the Master and said. "You Monster! What have you done to me?"
The Master took a few steps forward towards Icon when Umbra held his arm to stop him from going near Icon. The Master waved Umbra off . "What I have done? I have made you immortal. You will live till the end of the time. You should be happy and honored to receive such a gift."
"Immortal? Look at me! I'm like a bloodsucking monster now! You expect me to be happy with what I've become?" Icon angrily answered back. He took a step towards the Master and raised his hands. A ball of dark energy appeared in his palms. "Revert me back to my old self. Take back the power!" Icon demanded. The Master just stood still and smiled at Icon. Umbra was worried about her Master's safety, she started to move towards him but the Master raised his hand, signaling her to stop. "I said change me back! I do not want this power!" Icon angrily shouted, coming closer to the Master. The Master still stood, not showing even one hint of fear and kept on smiling. As if he was daring Icon to strike him. "You arrogant old fool! I will use this power you gave me to destroy you!" Icon yelled. Icon tried to blast the Master but the ball of dark energy exploded in his palm instead, hurling him backwards, knocking him to a stone pillar. Icon didn't understand what had happened. Umbra also was shell shocked. She was almost sure Icon's magic spell would strike the Master hard. "How come my spell backfired at me?" Icon asked bewilderingly.
The Master approached Icon and smile at him. "I told you before; if I can give you the power I will have the way to control it. You cannot harm me."
"I do not believe you." Icon replied. He again tried to blast the Master but the same thing happened, his spell backfired on him and exploded in front of him.
"It is useless Icon. No matter how you try you cannot harm me. The spell I cast on you included a little insurance. He who cast the spell cannot be harmed by you. The Master smiled. "Accept your fate and join me."
"I will not help you. I would rather kill myself!" Icon shouted angrily.
"You cannot kill yourself also. You can try it if you want." the Master smiled again.
"If I cannot kill myself as you say then I will destroy this place and bury us all in here!" Icon replied.
"You will do no such thing. Umbra, show Icon our guest of honor." Icon turned to look for Umbra and saw her entered the door with Jabrina in tow. The blade of her scythe was leveled at Jabrina's neck. "Icon, help me..." Jabrina said crying.
"Let her go! She is just a child!" Icon yelled. "She has nothing to do with this!"
"As long as you follow orders no harm will come to her." the Master replied.
"You bastards! I swear one day you will regret what you have done to me." Icon answered back. He fell on his knees and started crying. Jabrina cried even more at the sight of Icon, looking like a defeated man. "Stand up Icon and come outside. I have something to show you." the Master told him. Icon stood up and went outside the throne room. He looked down and saw the demons shouting in crazed joy. They were rejoicing when they saw Icon. "See that Icon? The demons can feel the power in you. The Dark Lord has been reborn in you. Hear them cheer you. You will lead them to wreak havoc all over Vanadiel." the Master said laughing out loud.
-O-
West Ronfaure.
The Elvaan guard stationed at the guard tower thought he was dreaming. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the scene outside again. He hurriedly stood up from his chair and ran to ring the warning bell. "Orcs! We are under attack from Orcs!" he shouted as he rang the bell. Outside, the Orcs were streaming out of Ghelsba. The Elvaan army quickly manned the ramparts and started the defense of Sandoria. It was a bloody battle. The West Ronfaure side of the city walls of Sandoria was badly battered in the end. The survivors swore they saw a Hume standing in the middle of the attacking Orcs as waves and waves of them streamed forth towards the city walls trying to overwhelm the defenses of Sandoria.