Chapter 5: Onslaught of the Beast
The shadowy buildings of Kerning cast their long arms out towards the main roadways, as the evening sun broke its light upon the industrial jungle. Buildings rose up on either side, as the party of five headed towards Central Kerning. It grew dark as they rushed past the alleys, and finally reached Central Kerning just as the night lights turned on. "I still hate this place." Heera mumbled. Loud shouts could be heard everywhere, as bright neon lights glowed among the overcrowded streets, advertising the many bars that were accustomed to Kerning.
Kiltan pointed upwards to the roof of one of the many buildings. He carried Heera, and with a swift leap, he jumped onto the roof. Leiguin, who still held onto the injured warrior Herald, teleported after Kiltan. Bull looked up, and with a mighty stomp of his foot; he flew upwards and landed on the roof, leaving a crack on the street below. Kiltan headed to a small, shabby house, which was basically a small building made with broken bricks from the construction site. "My old house. I didn't think I would have to come back here for whatever reason." Kiltan said, as he fumbled with the keys, eventually giving up and kicking the door in. It had nothing but a small lamp and a torn mattress. "The way of the thief. What a life it was." Kiltan muttered, as he entered the stuffy room and switched on the lamp. Leiguin set Herald down onto the mattress. "He has a broken leg and a few crushed ribs. He is heavily wounded, and I fear for his life. I can give him aid, but I will need some supplies from the pharmacy." Leiguin said. "Then go and get what you need." Kiltan replied, pulling out a roll of money from under the lamp. "Heera, stay with him. I have to pay another visit to the Dark Lord. Bull, you may wish to come. I don't think you have met in a long while." Bull nodded his head, and the two leapt off.
Kiltan headed for the bar, which was where the hidden entrance to the Dark Lord's lair was. But he found no one there, which was unlike the bars of Kerning to be empty, especially at night. He gave a quick glance around, and then turned back. "The Dark Lord has rallied the thieves." He turned and ran towards Central Kerning Square, which was an open space in the city of Kerning, mainly used for public purposes. Kiltan's sharp ears picked up the sound of many voices. Sure enough, in that open area, many thieves stood. Some were of great stature, nearly matching Kiltan in skill. Others were mere newcomers, curious as to why they were being summoned by the Dark Lord. Kiltan, with Bull by his side, walked up to the head of the crowd.
"Kiltan, I'm glad you have retuned. Come now, we have many things to do" The Dark Lord slowly spoke. "And Bull, long have I missed you. Now, in this time of darkness, we meet again. Stand by me; I am in need of your council." With that, he stood up, a stern look on his face. Then, he turned to face the gathering of thieves that were under his command. Over two hundred stood there, but there were more who were spread out over the island of Victoria. They could not come, but they knew of their lord's will, and they knew what he wanted them to do. So, with the gathering of his followers, The Dark Lord spoke, in a loud, clear voice, that rang against the cold walls of Kerning. "My followers! Thieves, bandits and assassin of Victoria Island! I say to you now, draw your daggers, and hold ready your stars, for war is at our doorsteps! I have seen what you have not."
He held up his hand, and beckoned to a huge sewer pipe, of which flowed the waste drainage of Kerning. Most people knew, for it had become a shortcut route, which led to the Kerning Swamps, rotten and foul under the wastage of Kerning. And yet, there dwelled creatures, like crocodiles, except that they grew large from the contamination of Kerning, and they grew into huge, dangerous creatures. Beyond the swamp lay the entrance to Sleepywood, of which this became a path that was frequented by many travelers, who would brave the foul lands to reach their destination. But now, this path served an even deadlier purpose, for it gave the armies of the beast a straight path to launch an attack upon Kerning City. The sewer hole now seemed menacing; an open doorway that was cloaked in darkness, and within it, people could feel the presence of an oncoming terror.
"The monsters advance. I have seen them, from my perch upon the roof of Kerning City. They come in great numbers, through the swampy land they crush. And not all come from the dungeons, for they have rallied together the beast that live in the swampy lands, and their army grows larger as the approach. More foul then the swamp itself, I see the terrible creatures as they come, spreading over the lands like a terrible curse. They will swarm the city by sunlight, and their numbers are overwhelming. We cannot wait any longer; we must head for Henesys tonight. Why, you ask, do I flee from danger? You have not seen what terrors they bring with them, for they are not the simple beast that you have slain before. No, for now, the beast has unleashed his true terror. It is sending forth not only an army of cargos, who alone had overwhelmed Perion, but now, it is also bringing forth great stone creatures, and like walking houses they advance. Cursed stone golems, poisoned with the evil mind of their master. And beyond that, I see an even greater threat. I call them the taurospears, and I know that few of you have even cast your eyes upon it, for it dwells deep in the Cursed Sanctuary of the beast. I have killed them before, but not without an epic struggle. I fear for your sakes, for with the mighty spear they wield, they will cast your souls into oblivion. These beast cannot be fought with our small army, and only with the combined forces of all men of Victoria, can we hold our grounds against the armies of the beast. Now, we shall head for Henesys, for there, they are uniting the men, and they will take the final stand before the advancing creatures. Make haste, my people, for we shall head off, and let the darkness of the night be our cover as we swiftly dash through the roads, for not even I know what creatures might lay there."
With that, the Dark Lord stood amongst his people, and he gathered them into groups, getting ready to head off into the night. In a final meek effort to hold the grounds of Kerning, some thieves began to make a barricade, blocking out the sewer hole with whatever materials they could find, which wasn't difficult, for the streets was littered with metal piping and bricks that were carelessly left behind after the construction of Kerning. Bull was walking along besides the Dark Lord, as they talked solemnly together, discussing the terrors that now faced them. Kiltan took his leave, as he headed back to his house to get Heera, Leiguin and Herald ready to move off.
Kiltan knew, from the moment he stepped into his house, that something horrible had happened. He saw Heera and Leiguin, standing silently over Herald, who lay still on the bed. Their eyes were downcast, and Heera was sobbing silently. Kiltan slowly approached, and saw Herald's body. "I could do nothing to help him. He was too mortally wounded. I could not tell how badly injured he was till the very end. Now, he has passed away, and it is my fault. I could not save him in time." Leiguin spoke slowly, with a great burden in his heart. With that, he slowly sank down at the side, never taking his eyes off Herald.
Kiltan approached Heera, and held her tightly in his arms, comforting her. But he too, felt a great pain within him. For only a short while did he knew this man, but with his passing, it signaled the fall of Perion, as the last warrior fell to the powers of the beast. "This is not right. This will not go without justice. I swear now, upon your spirit, you will get your vengeance." And Kiltan picked up Herald's sword, and laid it across his chest. He looked at Heera, and saw her eyes stained with tears. But she drew a sharp breath, and began to speak softly. "He is not alone. There are others, who have escaped the siege of Perion. He spoke it as his last words." And with that, she began to weep again.
"There will be a time to weep over those who have fallen, but now is not the time. The shadows of darkness creep over the lands, and it will swallow us whole if we stay here. Come, tell me what he said." Kiltan said, in a soft, comforting voice. Heera looked up, and slowly began to speak. "An army of warriors, about a hundred strong, had escaped Perion as the beast had advanced. As they fought against the creatures, Bull gave the order for them to retreat. They did, but they did not take the main roads. They ran through the harsh wasteland of Perion, for they did not know what other creatures could be waiting for them along the roads. As they left, they saw Bull, holding off the beast, as he sacrificed himself to save them. He gave a final shout, and ordered them to head for Henesys, and without turning back a glance, they ran off, heading through the swamps of Kerning."
"No!" Kiltan suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with fear. They will be advancing slowly, for the swamps are not easily passable. For all I know, they could be heading straight towards the main swamplands right now, right into the oncoming assault of creatures. They will stand no chance. They have to be warned." And with that, Kiltan ran out and headed for Kerning Square.
Kiltan spotted the Dark Lord, who was still talking to Bull. He saw that the thieves had been organized, and they were ready to move off. "My Lord! I have just received new from the warrior we had saved from Perion. He has now fallen, and may his soul rest in peace. But a more urgent matter now concerns us. Bull, the warriors you called to retreat from Perion, they still live! But now, they head straight into the paths of the oncoming beast, for they are walking through the Kerning Swamps, and they will be destroyed by the creatures that move to strike Kerning! We have to warn them!" At this, Bull grew solemn, his eyes in deep thought. Then he looked up, and said, "I will go and warn them. I will not leave my people, who have so valiantly fought to defend Perion, to die at the hands of those whom they have escaped from. I will head off into the swamps, and I will stand with them, and wait for the armies to pass, before we move off, through the swamp lands, and head for the Henesys forest." He then turned to the Dark Lord. "Take your people now, and make haste for Henesys. I will meet you there, and we will stand together, before the demon itself, till the very end. Farewell, old friend." And with that, he began to head towards the sewer, holding his hand up, signaling to the people there to stop building the barricade till he passed through. Kiltan ran up to him, and said "Bull, I will go with you. I know the swamp lands thoroughly. I thought I had witnessed the fall of the warriors with the death of Herald, but now, I will help you in whatever way possible to save those people."
Kiltan gave a final word to the Dark Lord, and told him to take Heera and Leiguin with the thieves, as they headed off to Henesys. With a final blessing, the Dark Lord sent the two off, as they headed through the sewers, towards the swamps of Kerning. They heard the final brick being laid, as the thieves stacked up the barricade, closing to way to Kerning City behind them.
The foul smell of the swamp hit the two in the face, and the humidity dampened their clothes. Only the faint light of the moon shone here, mostly blocked out by the crooked trees, dead, yet seemingly alive, as the clawed up and around the foul air of the swamps. There were eyes, cold and hard, staring down at them from the branches. They were small, snake like creatures that dwelled in the swamp, darting around the trees. Along with alligator creatures, this swam silently under the stale waters, only surfacing to catch a breath of air, barely making a ripple. They feasted upon the carcasses of small animals that got lost through the swampy lands. Before Kiltan, there lay the small bit of dry land that headed straight towards Sleepywood. It was mostly made up of fallen trees, which served as a pathway over the waters, away from the creatures that lurked beneath. But this was not the path that Kiltan intended to take, for before him, even under the faint light, he saw the moving armies, drawing ever closer towards the city. The trees cracked under the foot of the creatures, as they did not need to fear the murky waters. He saw the silhouette of the cargo, leading the creatures onwards.
With a swift fling, Kiltan flung a star straight into the eyes of the snake creature that had been watching them all along. With a high pitched shriek, it fell into the waters, and immediately, the gaping jaw of the alligator snapped up and consumed it whole. "Let's go." Kiltan said, as he leapt thought the trees, occasionally using the vines to swing to the next tree, but never touching the waters below him. However Bull was not so agile, but he had no fear of such a place, for his mighty axe could slice through all creatures that stood in his path. Without though, he stepped into the water, his feet pushing through the muddy bottom of the swamp. This stir in the water caught the attention of the creatures that lay beneath, and within a moment, alligators began to snap upwards and out of the water, eager for fresh meat. But this was not another animal who had aimlessly wandered into the watery grave. Here was Bull, almighty leader of the warriors of Perion, and with his great axe, he hewn at the creatures, slicing their bodies through, and staining the waters with a deep red. Within a moment of the attack, Bull now stood among the carcasses of his fallen enemies, his axe stained with their blood. He slung it onto his back, and ran through the swamp, following Kiltan.
Straight through the night, the two fighters ran into the deep swamps, never speaking, and always on the lookout for the group of warriors. Monsters fell behind Bull, and he advanced into the swamp. Nearly two hours had passed, and they were fast approaching the Tree of Victoria. Its shadows now stretched over the swamps, and its long branches reaching out, blocking the moon from their view. They were cast into darkness, but they did not falter, for they heard voices, coming from the trees beyond. They had finally found the warrior. They were holding torches, and its light shone through the dark woods, casting long shadows outwards. Nothing needed to be said, as the two approached the group. A resounding cheer was heard from them, as they caught sight of Bull, but immediately, he held up his hand and signaled them the be silent. He and Kiltan stood before them, and then he told them of the army of creatures that was before them.
As Bull told them of what was happening, Kiltan suddenly heard the sound of breaking trees. They were trodden underfoot by no man, but by the great army, heading towards Kerning. The warriors heard it too, and they were stricken with fear. "Pull back. We shall hide under the cover of darkness. Do not attack, for they do not know that we are here. Unless all hope is lost, then do we draw our weapon." Bull said softly, and he signaled them to move back, hiding behind the trees, as they heard the monsters slowly advancing past them. They could see nothing, for the dense trees were blocking all view of the main pathway. But they could hear all too clearly, as the great feet of the taurospear crashed down into the swamp. They dared not move, and they closed their eyes, huddling close together.
Kiltan stepped silently forward. He quickly scaled the tree, and standing amongst the branches, he cast his eyes toward the pathway. But he did not have to look far, nor strain his eyes downwards, for the taurospear loomed tall before him, and its body broke through the canopy of the trees. Its spear, long and cold, brushed against the tree which Kiltan was in, causing it to shake violently. Kiltan held on tight, and held his breath. The creature had not seen him, and it passed by. But there were more, and Kiltan's heart sank, as he saw more and more of the creatures pass by. It seemed to him like an endless stream of beast, advancing straight towards the doomed city of Kerning. He closed his eyes, and thought of his home city. He prayed that they had left in time, for by now, the creatures would have breached the wall. And yet, only the small, insignificant monsters would have rushed headlong into the city, expecting to be challenged by an army of thieves, only to find nothing. And if anyone was left behind, he could easily kill those creatures, but the true horror of this demon army was passing by, right before Kiltan. He wrapped his clock around him, as he sat high up in that tree, and huddled up between the branches, hearing the sound of the creatures passing by him. I seemed as if they would never end.
But the onslaught did end. It was awhile before the sound of the creatures died down, as they passed into the boundaries of Kerning City. Kiltan climbed up, and standing upon the canopy of the swamp, he cast his eyes westward. From here, he could barely make out Kerning City, through the smog that surrounded it. But now, the skyline grew red, as Kerning was set ablaze with the fires of conquest. The taurospears had not even breached the city, as they were slowly breaking through the swamps. But they were not needed here, for there was no one left to resist their advances. As Kiltan looked on, the sun slowly rose, casting its light upon the doomed city. He felt a cold chill blow, as the break of dawn revealed the fall of Kerning City, outpost of the thieves of Victoria.
A saddening grip held onto his heart. Two cities, fallen without a fight, had now been now overtaken by the armies of the beast. And yet, this great creature had not even shown its face. Kiltan felt a great rage, and he wanted to storm into the dungeons of Sleepywood, and face this great creature. His hands trembled, and he clutched at his sides. He would have leapt straight towards Sleepywood, and ran straight into the heart of the Sanctuary to fight this beast single-handedly, if it wasn't for the call of Bull. He looked down, still trembling from the sight he had witnessed. Bull beckoned to him, for they were heading off again, under the hope of new light, as the sun broke upon the swamps, bringing in hope to the men.
"We head for Henesys. He will still be cutting through the swamps, as the main roads would be too dangerous. By now, the gang of thieves should be nearing Henesys, if they had continued to move through the night. And now, we must move, and if we keep up at this speed, we will reach Henesys by nightfall." Bull said. Kiltan jumped down and joined him, and together, they began to march on, with the crowd of solemn warriors behind them.
The swamps began to thin out, and they soon stood in a forest. "We have reached the domain of Henesys. Courage, my men, for we are near to our destination." Bull shouted out, and they began to step forward, and with only the sun as their guide, as they slashed through the trees in their path. But then, Kiltan heard a loud cry. He turned towards the source of the sound. Judging by the position of the sun, he concluded that the voice came from the direction of Lith Harbour. He turned around, and saw Bull looking onward in the same direction. "The people of Lith Harbour have long been evacuated. Who now calls for aid?" And with that, they changed their course, and began to head in the direction of the call.