Chap 9: The four brothers
Me-Drok had thought he was dead, he believed the voices he heard to be those of angels and that the large man like figure before him was one of Guthix's servants. But he soon realized that it was Radimus Erkle, treating his wounds.
" Ahhh you awake, its an honor to meet you once more Me-Drok, at first we thought you were dead," Radimus said as he gestured to twenty members of the legend's guild," Sadly these are the only of my men who were brave enough to come, the cowards from the mage guild refused our plea, they fear the foe we must face, and rightfully so..."
" There is one mage here... He is known as Peter... I saw him as I collapsed, I cant say for sure but I believe he killed all the beasts whos corpses you you see, I also believe he has gone into the temple to confront Zaros,"
" Im sorry but if he indeed challenged the god Zaros, who once dwarfed the gods we worship in this age then this 'Peter' is dead, even if Zaros is in a weakened state," Radimus spoke sadly.
" I know... I dont think he expected to live through this day, much like myself," Me-Drok said as he stood.
" I dont know why your stalling Radimus, we need to stop Zaros before he reaches out his hand and seizes victory," One of the legends said nervously.
And with those words Me-Drok vanished into the temples darkness.
" Now that..." Radimus said as he turned to the legends," That is a warrior," and he too followed Me-Drok.
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Through the darkness they pushed, lies being wispered to them from the darkness, nameless fears cursing those that passed. The steel hearts of the Legends and their leader did not falter nor did the swordsman's as they continued into the forboding darkness.
Then they suddenly came to an enourmous room, a blood stained spear stuck in a wall near the entrance. Ashes and burn marks were also found on the floors and walls. A body lay crumpled in the middle of the mess, it was covered in blood and runes lay about it. Me-Drok knew who it was. He bowed his head and muttered a prayer to Guthix.
" I never thought of you as a religious man," Radimus said quietly to Me-Drok.
" Peter was, he died fighting for balance in Guthix's name. And for that he deserves a prayer,"
Me-Drok turned back to Peter's body and let out a cry of anger and anguish.
" Me-Drok, it may be hard to let go but-"
" QUIET! Im not letting go im taking in all the anger I can, I'll be sure the one whom did this to Peter will die," Me-Drok seemed as if he was on fire.
He grasped his sword and swung it. As it grazed the ground sparks flew from it.
" Lets go," Me-Drok said emotionlessly.
They began walking to the exit of the huge room. Radimus eyed his group wearily, for he saw fear and weakness in them. As they exited the room they realized they were at their destination already.
They now stood in a utterly massive domelike room. In the center was a man sized spike, on the farthest wall was a human shaped indent in the wall. There was a groove in the floor leading from the spike to the indent in the wall. Bats fluttered around the ceiling, shadows of warriors long dead walked around in the darkness near the edge of the circular room. Standing next to the spike was a black figure wearing robes that seemed like shadows. He held a cat in his right arm.
Me-Drok sprinted towards his enemy and prepared to attack. As his blade swung down three shadow warriors attacked him from three sides knocking him backwards.
" I'll only take a second," Zezima said as Me-Drok cut through the warriors.
Zezima raised the cat up and plunged it through the spike with great force. The black cats body went limp and Zezima turned to Me-Drok as if he had dont nothing.
" So you think you'll fare better than that mage? Surely you must have see-" Me-Drok had nearly connected with Zezima's face. Zezima ducked and took out Me-Droks legs with a sweep of his own. The members of the Legends guild advanced but were instantly attacked by a swarm of shadow warriors, who seemed to take a sadistic pleasure in tourturing them.
Me-Drok extended an arm and broke his fall by pushing up and propelling himself into the air. Zezima leaped upwards and prepared to attack but recieved a foot in the face. Me-Drok landed and drew out his weapon. He swung it at Zezima who seemed to be operating despite the blow to his face. He dodged the blow and thrust a fist at Me-Drok who brought his blade up suddenly into it. A loud scream echoed throughout the chamber. Zezima's right hand had been severed, and landed uselessly on the ground. Me-Drok swung the blade again and recieved a kick in the stomach. As he keeled over Zezima brought his right elbow down upon Me-Drok's back. He nearly collapsed but forced himself to stay on his feet. Zezima, clearly determined to break this will and brought his knee into Me-Drok's face. Me-Drok swung his blade blindly and clipped Zezima's stomach.
" I have no time for this foolishness," Zezima hissed and kicked Me-Drok five feet backwards. As he hit the ground Zezima turned and ran to the human indent in the wall.
Zezima climbed into it and relaxed all his muscles. Me-Drok climbed to his feet and watched Zezima in wonder.
" STOP HIM!" Radimus roared from behind a wave of shadow warriors.
Me-Drok then saw the blood from the cat trickling through the indent in the ground towards zezima. It was nearly upon him. Although he didnt understand what would happen if it reached him he knew no doubt it would be bad.
He was dashing as fast as he could but realized to his horror he could'nt stop it. As the blood touched Zezima hundreds of sharp needles emerged from the wall and went through his body. His body began to convulse and deform, in moments he didnt even seem human but rather a blob of convulsing flesh and muscle, with veins bursting and sticking out all over. Pentegrams they had'nt been able to see in the darkness lit up in a purple glare. The chamber began to seem alive, the bony walls began to become fleshier and contracted.
" We need to get out!" Me-Drok yelled to Radimus. Radimus nodded and pulled back. Me-Drok followed, pushing through the shadow warriors. As they ran from the temple the passages grew smaller and pulsated. As Radimus, Me-Drok ,and some of the legends guilds members escaped from the temple it seemed to give a heave. They turned and faced it. Now instead of a skeleton a massive humanlike form was before them. It heaved and shrunk, unearthly sounds escaping from within. It's skeletal mouth slammed shut, crushing those unfortunate few inside. Then with a great sigh it shrunk into a shape about the size of a ogre with the looks of a human. As it stood it could be seen that it had long black hair, a lean and muscular body, however most noticable was its eyes. They were black with a small but furious red pupil. It stroked its hair with hands sporting catlike claws.
For a moment Me-Drok lost all hope, he knew what he stood before. Radimus stared at the demonic being helplessly.
" As you can see... My body is my temple, quite literally," Zaros spoke with words that stung like a dagger.
Radimus, blinded by grief, dashed forth and swung his blade vainly at Zaros. The sword didnt come within a foot of him. He had been sliced in half by a swift swipe of Zaros' arm. The members of the legends guild slumped hopelessly, they stared at Radimus' upper half in horror as it crashed uselessly against the earth.
" Im glad you all could be here to witness one of your own betraying you. And do you know why you fabled hero backstabbed you? Because he was BORED! After all his abilites were mastered, all lands explored, he felt his existence was petty for what else was there to do, and thus I came to him giving him the offer to turn from creation, for it had bored him, and assist the greatest act of destruction. Naturally he accepted, for he had no conceivable reason to live, Isnt that just priceless!" Zaros laughed, " Your Gods were too kind, they didnt even bother trying to see if I survived their attack. Im also surprised they didnt notice me in my manisfestations, feline and otherwise. I had always thought they were closely watching over their world,"
There was a moment of silence. Me-Drok slumped to his knees and collapsed on his face. The legends looked more afraid than ever. Without warning Zaros attacked. A large purple explosion tore through them instantly, killing them all.
Zaros picked Me-Drok from the ground, holding him up with his index and middle finger under his chin and held him in the air.
" You almost stopped me you know, You came so close to killing my 'pride', my one shot at completion," Zaros laughed and drew his other hand back. Then, before he could end Me-Drok's life a flaming claw came from beneath him and a bolt of lightning from above. Zaros, although unharmed dropped Me-Drok in surprise. Nearby stood ghostlike renditions of Peter, Kollodin, and Khyren.
" You've had your fun Zaros," The three spoke, almost as one," Now give up, theres no need to destroy this world again,"
Zaros grinned, his grin became a smile, and that smile turned to an open mouth emitting deafening laughter.
" You truely are fools! To think that I would give into you! You don't even give a logical reason so I should'nt destroy, wheras I can" Zaros rose from the ground, " Death is the ultimate liberation,"
And with that he raised his left arm and a massive explosion shook Morte Myre. He raised his right and in a great purple explosion Varrock stood no more.
The trio leaped into the air after him and began launching spells after him. Flame, lightning, and claws, none connected. Guthix yelled through his embodiment of Peter's form.
" Rethink what your doing! It is madness!"
Khyren fired the flames of Zamorak towards Zaros and barely struck him. Zaros swung both of his arms together causing a massive explosion in the center of the three.
" No," he smirked, " It's the purest form of sanity,"
Kollodin hit the ground hard but stood and fired yet another spell off.
" My brother! How I've waited for this!" Zaros yelled at Kollodin and fell towards him, hitting the spell and continuing past, wreathed in flames, then smashing into Kollodin.
" Leave this world scum!" Zamorak spoke as Kollodin struck Zaros. Khyren leaped from where he had fallen and charged into Zaros knocking him off balance. As he fell Peter summoned a claw of Guthix wich consumed Zaros.
Zaros let out a cry of pain and launched a spell of his own making at Peter, who dodged it and sent off another spell. Zaros leaped out of the way. However the gods could see he was in pain.
" Hes weakened do it now!" Kollodin yelled to Peter.
Peter raised his right hand and smiled.
" You have something of my hosts," He said smugly.
Zaros' eyes widened in horror as his chest split open. Peter's staff of Guthix tore from within his chest and flew into Peter's hand.
As Zaros fell, a final, terrible outburst of energy, greater than any force mustered before had tore forth from him, which passed over the area around him, consuming everything and destroying his brother's vessel's of flesh.
Zaros fell and lay on the ground for hours next to Me-Drok. He stood slowly however, his chest horribly damaged, even being a God he still was hurt, almost beyond repair. However he was satisfied, having driven off his brothers for the time being, and scarred the land for eons no doubt.
Without a warning Me-Drok stood, an undescribable look in his eyes, he swung around and pressed his back firmly to Zaros' bloody chest. He raised his blade and brought it through his own stomach and into Zaros'. With a disbelieving look, Zaros' body relaxed, the redness in his eyes expanded, appearing almost beautiful. Death is the ultimate liberation.
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The old man stopped speaking for a moment and bowed his head.
" What happened next?" One of his grand-children eagerly asked.
The mans head rose once again and he spoke," Even the wisest could not answer that, I could never explain in words you could understand sadly, maybe one day...Long from now you'll feel something similar," His eyes lowered to his side, where a rusty sword rested. He stroked it and bowed his head once more. His Grand-Children asked yet another question, but he no longer cared about worldly things and closed his eyes for a final time.
END