AN: I figure I might wanna add a dsicalimer here, so: I do not own MapleStory or any characters, towns, etc. found within it. Aaaaand... 'Ere's the story! Oh, there's a (relatively) big fight in this chapter, so you'll have to tell me if it comes out well.
Kane bent low over the body of one of Grendel's guards. With a grunt, he stood and kicked the body over, hiding the corpse's gruesomely vacant stare. Another guard was walking towards him. With inhuman speed, he leaped into the overhanging tree above the guard's head. The man looked around cautiously, then slowly continued his march. He had scarcely gone a pace when Kane dropped from the tree and broke the guard's neck without a sound. The demon hurried on, avoiding a trap concealed in the dead leaves that littered the ground. The leaves were another safeguard: Anyone who walked through the area would have to crunch through the leaves, alerting the guard's attention almost instantly. This had no effect on Kane however, as he could float through the air close to the ground, moving as if a shadow. The next guard that wandered across Kane's path met the same end as the first two, and it was this way that Kane slowly gained entrance to Grendel the Old's sanctuary.
The Library was positioned high above the rest of Ellinia, giving it an almost omniscient view of the town. Kane moved with the shadows, his Blue Arzuna giving him extra camouflage. The huge arch that formed the entrance to the Magic Library loomed ahead, invisible if not for a guard's lantern that lay forgotten on a simple wooden chair. Kane treaded carefully towards the entry, wary of any unseen traps. The place was deserted. He rapidly moved through the entrance hall towards the main lobby, where he knew Grendel frequently meditated. The room was empty however, so Kane moved on. The small rooms on the staircase to the highest room proved empty as well. Kane's suspicions were confirmed when he heard voices coming from Grendel's own room. "We'll have to make do without them..." A voice whispered.
A conversation was occuring between Grendel and, Kane estimated, three other people. He only caught snatches of the talk, but knew that his job would be harder than he originally thought. Athena Pierce, Dark Lord, Dances with Balrog, and Grendel the Old were all in the same room; his prey had made it all the simpler to finish his objective. It'll be harder to kill them all if I have to fight them at the same time... I have no doubt I'll win, but it will come at a cost... He thought uneasily. Shaking away the fears, he crept up the stairs, closer to the room.
"Aye, but we'll have to..."
"Indeed."
"Heh. I have to say..."
"What?"
"We have a visitor..."
The door was flung open before Kane could retreat. Four figures filled the doorway. "Kane, so good of you to join us!" Grendel cried.
Kane snarled inarticulately and lunged at them, striking all four with one sweeping attack. They were knocked through the wall, Kane following in pursuit. They landed in the center of a small square, surrounded by houses and buildings all around. Curious mages appeared at doors, looking for the cause of the disturbance. Kane's eyes began to glow a crimson red and a barrier began to rise between the startled villagers and himself. The four Elders were trapped within, searching for a weak point through which they could escape. "You won't find an escape route...," Kane muttered softly.
Dark Lord pulled a Varkit from an inner fold of his robe. "Then we'll just have to kill you, maybe then the barrier will disappear. If not... oh well!" Dark Lord lunged, his face screwed up in a snarl of intense hatred. Kane stepped to the side as the thief flew past. One of Kane's claws shot out and snared Dark Lord around the ankle.
"You're too hasty!" Kane swung the thief high into the air and slammed him into the ground. Dark Lord coughed, blood dribbling from his lip. Kane repeated this countless times until Dark Lord was unconscious.
Athena gaped at the hideous show of strength. "Kane! Let him down!"
Kane smirked at her. "Hmm... No." Kane threw Dark Lord into the air, then leaped up after him. As Dark Lord fell, Kane met him in mid-air. Kane extended a claw that caught Dark Lord in the chest-- and didn't stop. It went straight through the thief's body with a gruesome, sickening sound.
Athena fell to her knees in horror. "God... Akuji... What has happened to you?"
Suddenly, Kane began convulsing wildly. "Ack! Athena... help! It's... It's Akuji! The demon... is... Ugh!"
Athena stood and took a tentative step forward. "Akuji? It's okay! I'm here! I'll... I'll get Grendel to exorcise the demon from you..."
"Thank you... Athena..." Athena placed a hand on Akuji's shoulder, then, when there was no resistance, enveloped him in a tender hug. Grendel watched in awe as Athena comforted Akuji. Then, he heard words that would echo in his head for the scarce remaining length of his life. "But I don't need the help of a mortal!"
"No!" She groaned as Kane cut cleanly through her body. Athena Pierce's corpse fell to the ground with a soft thud. Blood dyed the ground crimson, and as Grendel fell to his knees, it stained his pure white robe.
"Dammit!" Dances with Balrog leaped forward, a Devil's Sunrise in his hands. Kane turned and caught the blade between his hands. With a light tug, he broke the sword cleanly in two.
"That's what I'm going to do to you next... I like to vary my kills... I gored Dark Lord, cut Athena in two, and I'll break you in half..." Dances with Balrog croaked in horror as Kane lunged at him and punched him in the stomach. Grendel heard a crack as his friend was blown away, landing at his feet.
"Grendel..." Dances with Balrog coughed, and to Grendel's horror, blood trickled from his jaw. "Grendel... You have to ger out of here... You're the only one left... You have to lead the survivors now!" Dances with Balrog became silent.
"No!" Grendel cried.
Kane laughed cruelly. "Yes, so sad! Such a tear jerker... I think... I think I'm going to cry! I need something to cheer me up... Yes, I know! I'll kill you... Nice... and slow..."
Grendel scowled at him. "You speak hollow threats, demon. I shall avenge my friends!"
"A noble effort, I'm sure. But I'm afraid you will fail, if you try..."
"Die!" Grendel lunged forward, lightning sparking at his fingertips. "Lightning Spear!" The electricity formed into a single shaft of energy, coming to a sharp point. Grendel threw the spear at Kane. The demon stepped aside and caught it as it soared by.
"Magic... Such a quaint thing... So powerful... But so easily turned against you..." Kane reared back and threw the spear back at Grendel.
"Dammit!" The wizened mage cried as the spear struck his left arm. It continued through, leaving a sizable hole in his arm. "This wound won't stop me! Heal!" The wound closed quickly, surrounded by a green aura.
Kane sighed. "Then this battle will have to carry on for awhile... Until I take your head off... That should keep you from casting spells."
"Shining Ray!" Grendel bellowed. A single shaft of light pierced the clouds and burst through Kane's barrier. It pierced Kane through the midriff, causing him to shriek in pain.
"A... holy spell... A demon like me finds these rather... trivial... I have evolved over the weakness to holy spells, Grendel."
"I don't doubt it. But even you shall die from a powerful attack, holy or not. Explosion!" The space within the barrier erupted in a fiery blaze. Grendel quickly cast a defensive spell around himself while he watched Kane burn.
"This is getting to be troublesome, Grendel. You're friends were just as weak as they were before, so many years ago... But I see you, at least, present a sizable challenge!" Kane appeared in the fire, eyes blazing and his clothes smoking. In a casual gesture, he wiped the ashes from his sleeves and advanced menacingly towards Grendel.
"Seal!" The mage called. A box, engraved with ancient runes, formed around the demon.
"This shall not hold me forever, Grendel..."
"I don't need it to hold you forever... Ice Strike!" Huge pieces of ice cascaded from the sky, descending upon Kane. The demon held up his arms in defense and the seal around him shattered, just as the ice struck him. "May you rest in peace, Akuji..." Grendel sighed as he turned away. The spectators grouped around the barrier gasped in shock. Turning, Grendel looked upon the scene that unfolded behind him.
Kane rose slowly from the pile of ice that had once covered him. "Pathetic, Grendel. I expect more of you..." Kane lunged forward and swiped through the air with his claws.
Grendel leaped backwards as the attack neared him. Kane cursed and attacked again, missing. "Lightning Spear!" Grendel threw the spear at Kane.
Kane tripped as he tried to dodge the attack. He watched as the spear, as if in slow motion, embedded itself in his chest. "Ugh!" He groaned as he stumbled backwards, grasping the magic weapon. The spear slid easily out of him, dyed crimson from his blood. "That hurt, Grendel..." He muttered. With no apparent exertion, he threw the spear at Grendel. The spear pierced Grendel's leg, pinning him to a wall.
"Dammit..."
"In a bit of a fix, Grendel?" Kane walked slowly towards the trapped wizard. "I can help you..." Kane raised a hand and energy began to form in his palm. "Good-bye, Grendel. Say hello to your friends for me!" Kane thrust his hand forward and the energy surged outward in a huge stream. An inhuman scream was heard from miles around as the energy tore through Ellinia. In the line of fire, a searing line of destruction was wrought. When the smoke cleared, there was no demon, no Wizard Elder, and no barrier. The spectators dropped to their knees as they watched some of the more productive citizens gather remains of their leaders.
AN: (Prepares for the hail of tomatoes) Hi... Am I going to die a horrible death by how easily and quickly Athena, Grendel, and everyone died? I had to do that to show the difference in power of Kane and the real Kronos (the demon one) when he comes around. Anyway, reviews are welcome, and I'm prepared for several lengthy reviews about how I should suffer...
