Chapter XI: The Demon Lord
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I was awakened to the blonde haired Crimson, calling my name. I hurried outside of the room Triple Six had prepared
for us the night before. He was standing outside the house, and I went out to meet him. He was sitting down on a bench
nearby, looking over at a blacksmith. I cocked my head to the side and took a seat next to him. He sighed as the blacksmith
walked away. I looked to him with a questioning face.
"He was cute, wasn't he?" Crimson asked.
"..Crim?"
"Huh? ...oh... Yeah... Hehe..." He chuckled.
"I didn't know." I looked away.
"Well I didn't tell you." He replied.
"After all, I just came with you guys without even taking a chance to get to know you." He continued.
"I have good reason, you know. For coming with you."
"What reason?" I asked.
"Balmung." He said, with piercing words.
"...?"
"The sword, your destiny is bound to it. You defeated Phreeoni, and freed the spirit of Maya. Is this not true?" He asked.
"How did you know that?"
"The Spirit of Maya visited the Yggdrasil tree. Without the power of the sword to aid you, you would never have accomplished
what you did. You are by far, the key to finding it." He explained.
"But I thought Baphomet had it..." I asked.
"He does. And this is why I had to get with you. I am afraid Baphomet is going to attack the tree. If he does,
there will be a second Ragnarok."
"A second Ragnarok?"
"Is there a parrot here? Yes, a Second Ragnarok Dame." He repeated.
"What is Ragnarok?" I asked.
"Don't you read? Many years ago, Hell broke loose, Odin was devoured by the Fenris wolf, the Gods fell. Asgard was destroyed.
Ragnarok means the Fall of the Gods. Balmung was created after the Ragnarok, and given to Poing so that she could protect us.
If the Yggdrasil Tree is destroyed, Nidhogg, the eater of life will emerge from underneath and destroy all of Rune-Midgard."
"...Nidhogg...?"
"Nidhogg, the eater of life. He gnaws at the roots of the tree of life for all eternity with an insatiable hunger.
He is a giant dragon of indestructable power, like the tree himself he is immortal. If the tree is destroyed the entire
planet will be at his mercy. And I will tell you now, he is not a merciful being." Crimson answered.
"How can we prevent it?"
"I am the protector of the Tree of Life. Some help I am. Baphomet must be killed before Nidhogg is released."
"Can we beat him?" I questioned.
"Although he can wield Balmung, it's power is aiding you. Perhaps. Whatever happens, I will do anything to protect the
tree."
"I'll help you."
"Thanks Damey. I'm gonna go look for a cute Blackie Smithy." Crimson Smiled and ruffled my hair, leaving.
I blinked a few times. "He's an odd one." I shook my head and stood.
"Dame!!!" An oh too familiar voice squealed.
I was tackled by a very excited little Suzie. She smiled wide and hugged me. She apologized numerous times for
getting upset at me, and I willingly forgave. She smiled, and sat on the bench. I noticed something different, she was
no longer in her Kapra dress, but instead in just jeans and a T-Shirt. She informed me she was fired from the Kapra service
for being too immature, and not getting her job done. She also sadly informed me that she was moving away to persue other
careers. With Teary eyes she explained that her and I would probably not meet again. As I frowned, I noticed her cheeks turn
bright red. She leaned in and gave me a small kiss. My face turned red, as she stood up. I grabbed her hand, and asked her to
wait, but she simply started to cry, and yelling 'Good Bye', she turned and ran as fast as she could.
"Suzie..."
"Don't worry Dame." I heard Triple's voice behind me.
"You'll find happiness." She put her arms around me and gave me a gentle hug.
"Triple...showing affection? Should I fall over?" I smirked and hugged her.
She growled, withdrew her Morning Star mace and smashed it over my head. I fell to my back, and the egg shell helmet
I wore on my head shattered to pieces. She hissed at me and helped me up, only to smack me with the Morning Star again. Needless
to say when I was no longer unconscious, I heard Crimson telling Triple something...
"Triple, Tell Dame I need to leave."
"Why?" She asked.
"The Tree, it is in danger and I sense it. I need to get there immediately before something happens." He responded.
"Please try to get him to wake up, and have him hurry to the Tree. I need his help."
"Alright Crim." She replied.
"Thank you. Fare Well." I heard the sound of a warp portal opening and closing.
"This cannot be good..." Triple said as I walked to her.
"I heard it all."
"Good. We need to hurry."
"I know, can you warp us to the Yggdrasil Tree?" I asked.
"No, sadly we gotta go through those damn coal mines again."
"Shit.. Where is Arconus and Sirocco when we need them?!"
"I have NO idea! They won't reply to any of the letters I --" Triple Six's doorbell Rang.
"What the hell?" She opened it.
"Kapra Delievery Service." Said a red-headed Kapra.
"Letter for Dame and Triple Six."
"Thats us." I said, taking the letter.
"Thanks." I read it aloud.
"Greetings, From Payon!
Arconus and I are having a great time hunting Solider Skeletons here, and we even found a few Rare items! We're
gonna stay here for a while. Sorry we haven't responded sooner. Kapras over here are retarded! Tee-hee!! See you soon!
-Love Sirocco and Arconus.
PS. We got you a present, Dame!"
It was then I noticed the Kapra was still there. She handed me a small box and left. Inside was a head band. Pearl
in color, with red arrow shaped stripes along it. The head band also had a feather sticking out of it. I put it on my head
and it fit perfectly. I looked in the Mirror, and even Triple admitted it looked nice on me. I admired myself for a moment,
before Triple randomly opened a warp portal beneath me feet. I was now infront of the Coal Mines. She appeared next to me
a few minutes later.
"Let's hurry." She said.
We ran as fast as we could, ignoring every creature, and again being chased by the giant scary red monster demon.
Within an hour, we reached the Tree of Life. Infront of Crimson towered a demon, Baphomet. He was huge. With a Goat's body.
Long horns came from his head. He was a light brown with hooved feet, and clawed hands. He held in his hand a long, jagged
Scythe. He spoke with a voice of pure darkness.
"Crimson!!" I called.
"Dame! Hurry!!" We ran to him.
"Fools... why do you delay the inevitable?" Asked Baphomet.
"We will NOT let you release Nidhogg!!" Shouted Crimson.
"How will YOU stop me, mortal?"
"We're stronger then you think Baphomet! You cannot defeat us! We have the power of the Gods is on our side!" Crimson
spat.
"The GODS? HAH! I laugh...You're a fool...a pitiful fool...I will kill all of you!" Baphomet cackled.
"Never!! MAGNUS EXORCISMUS!!!" Crimson held up his hand.
From the sky, an angel appeared, holding a sword above baphomet. She sang heavenly for a couple of seconds, and
Blades began to rain down upon Baphomet. He shielded his face with his Scythe as blades continued to fall. The blades were
made of pure light and holy energy. He cried out as they continued to fall. As this continued, I snapped out of my trance
and cast Storm Gust on him. The skies became cloudy, and jagged hail began to crash down and smash into him. The two of us
continued to cast our spells against Baphomet, for several minutes, before he could even move.
"No...I will not...be...defeated...."
He held up his Scythe and slashed at us. It sent forth a shock wave of energy at us. Crim blocked it with a spell,
but the spell only weakened it. The force knocked us back. Triple growled and attempted to attack...but I grabbed her back.
Crimson healed us, and I got up and cast Jupiter Thunder on him. It had barely any effect. Crimson created a force field to
protect us, as I kept casting spells.
"...No...Could the Balmung...really be aiding... him?"
"..Fine...I...Can't...continue..." He fell.
He began to breathe heavily. We didn't approach. with one final sigh, he cursed us, and died. He began to fade away
and in his place was a glowing sword with a blue aura. It was brilliant looking. I picked it up, and put it in my robe.
Crimson looked at me in awe, as did Triple.
"Balmung ..." Said a female voice.
I turned around ...and couldn't believe my eyes...
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To be Continued...
Final Chapter, The Epilogue, Coming soon!
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I was awakened to the blonde haired Crimson, calling my name. I hurried outside of the room Triple Six had prepared
for us the night before. He was standing outside the house, and I went out to meet him. He was sitting down on a bench
nearby, looking over at a blacksmith. I cocked my head to the side and took a seat next to him. He sighed as the blacksmith
walked away. I looked to him with a questioning face.
"He was cute, wasn't he?" Crimson asked.
"..Crim?"
"Huh? ...oh... Yeah... Hehe..." He chuckled.
"I didn't know." I looked away.
"Well I didn't tell you." He replied.
"After all, I just came with you guys without even taking a chance to get to know you." He continued.
"I have good reason, you know. For coming with you."
"What reason?" I asked.
"Balmung." He said, with piercing words.
"...?"
"The sword, your destiny is bound to it. You defeated Phreeoni, and freed the spirit of Maya. Is this not true?" He asked.
"How did you know that?"
"The Spirit of Maya visited the Yggdrasil tree. Without the power of the sword to aid you, you would never have accomplished
what you did. You are by far, the key to finding it." He explained.
"But I thought Baphomet had it..." I asked.
"He does. And this is why I had to get with you. I am afraid Baphomet is going to attack the tree. If he does,
there will be a second Ragnarok."
"A second Ragnarok?"
"Is there a parrot here? Yes, a Second Ragnarok Dame." He repeated.
"What is Ragnarok?" I asked.
"Don't you read? Many years ago, Hell broke loose, Odin was devoured by the Fenris wolf, the Gods fell. Asgard was destroyed.
Ragnarok means the Fall of the Gods. Balmung was created after the Ragnarok, and given to Poing so that she could protect us.
If the Yggdrasil Tree is destroyed, Nidhogg, the eater of life will emerge from underneath and destroy all of Rune-Midgard."
"...Nidhogg...?"
"Nidhogg, the eater of life. He gnaws at the roots of the tree of life for all eternity with an insatiable hunger.
He is a giant dragon of indestructable power, like the tree himself he is immortal. If the tree is destroyed the entire
planet will be at his mercy. And I will tell you now, he is not a merciful being." Crimson answered.
"How can we prevent it?"
"I am the protector of the Tree of Life. Some help I am. Baphomet must be killed before Nidhogg is released."
"Can we beat him?" I questioned.
"Although he can wield Balmung, it's power is aiding you. Perhaps. Whatever happens, I will do anything to protect the
tree."
"I'll help you."
"Thanks Damey. I'm gonna go look for a cute Blackie Smithy." Crimson Smiled and ruffled my hair, leaving.
I blinked a few times. "He's an odd one." I shook my head and stood.
"Dame!!!" An oh too familiar voice squealed.
I was tackled by a very excited little Suzie. She smiled wide and hugged me. She apologized numerous times for
getting upset at me, and I willingly forgave. She smiled, and sat on the bench. I noticed something different, she was
no longer in her Kapra dress, but instead in just jeans and a T-Shirt. She informed me she was fired from the Kapra service
for being too immature, and not getting her job done. She also sadly informed me that she was moving away to persue other
careers. With Teary eyes she explained that her and I would probably not meet again. As I frowned, I noticed her cheeks turn
bright red. She leaned in and gave me a small kiss. My face turned red, as she stood up. I grabbed her hand, and asked her to
wait, but she simply started to cry, and yelling 'Good Bye', she turned and ran as fast as she could.
"Suzie..."
"Don't worry Dame." I heard Triple's voice behind me.
"You'll find happiness." She put her arms around me and gave me a gentle hug.
"Triple...showing affection? Should I fall over?" I smirked and hugged her.
She growled, withdrew her Morning Star mace and smashed it over my head. I fell to my back, and the egg shell helmet
I wore on my head shattered to pieces. She hissed at me and helped me up, only to smack me with the Morning Star again. Needless
to say when I was no longer unconscious, I heard Crimson telling Triple something...
"Triple, Tell Dame I need to leave."
"Why?" She asked.
"The Tree, it is in danger and I sense it. I need to get there immediately before something happens." He responded.
"Please try to get him to wake up, and have him hurry to the Tree. I need his help."
"Alright Crim." She replied.
"Thank you. Fare Well." I heard the sound of a warp portal opening and closing.
"This cannot be good..." Triple said as I walked to her.
"I heard it all."
"Good. We need to hurry."
"I know, can you warp us to the Yggdrasil Tree?" I asked.
"No, sadly we gotta go through those damn coal mines again."
"Shit.. Where is Arconus and Sirocco when we need them?!"
"I have NO idea! They won't reply to any of the letters I --" Triple Six's doorbell Rang.
"What the hell?" She opened it.
"Kapra Delievery Service." Said a red-headed Kapra.
"Letter for Dame and Triple Six."
"Thats us." I said, taking the letter.
"Thanks." I read it aloud.
"Greetings, From Payon!
Arconus and I are having a great time hunting Solider Skeletons here, and we even found a few Rare items! We're
gonna stay here for a while. Sorry we haven't responded sooner. Kapras over here are retarded! Tee-hee!! See you soon!
-Love Sirocco and Arconus.
PS. We got you a present, Dame!"
It was then I noticed the Kapra was still there. She handed me a small box and left. Inside was a head band. Pearl
in color, with red arrow shaped stripes along it. The head band also had a feather sticking out of it. I put it on my head
and it fit perfectly. I looked in the Mirror, and even Triple admitted it looked nice on me. I admired myself for a moment,
before Triple randomly opened a warp portal beneath me feet. I was now infront of the Coal Mines. She appeared next to me
a few minutes later.
"Let's hurry." She said.
We ran as fast as we could, ignoring every creature, and again being chased by the giant scary red monster demon.
Within an hour, we reached the Tree of Life. Infront of Crimson towered a demon, Baphomet. He was huge. With a Goat's body.
Long horns came from his head. He was a light brown with hooved feet, and clawed hands. He held in his hand a long, jagged
Scythe. He spoke with a voice of pure darkness.
"Crimson!!" I called.
"Dame! Hurry!!" We ran to him.
"Fools... why do you delay the inevitable?" Asked Baphomet.
"We will NOT let you release Nidhogg!!" Shouted Crimson.
"How will YOU stop me, mortal?"
"We're stronger then you think Baphomet! You cannot defeat us! We have the power of the Gods is on our side!" Crimson
spat.
"The GODS? HAH! I laugh...You're a fool...a pitiful fool...I will kill all of you!" Baphomet cackled.
"Never!! MAGNUS EXORCISMUS!!!" Crimson held up his hand.
From the sky, an angel appeared, holding a sword above baphomet. She sang heavenly for a couple of seconds, and
Blades began to rain down upon Baphomet. He shielded his face with his Scythe as blades continued to fall. The blades were
made of pure light and holy energy. He cried out as they continued to fall. As this continued, I snapped out of my trance
and cast Storm Gust on him. The skies became cloudy, and jagged hail began to crash down and smash into him. The two of us
continued to cast our spells against Baphomet, for several minutes, before he could even move.
"No...I will not...be...defeated...."
He held up his Scythe and slashed at us. It sent forth a shock wave of energy at us. Crim blocked it with a spell,
but the spell only weakened it. The force knocked us back. Triple growled and attempted to attack...but I grabbed her back.
Crimson healed us, and I got up and cast Jupiter Thunder on him. It had barely any effect. Crimson created a force field to
protect us, as I kept casting spells.
"...No...Could the Balmung...really be aiding... him?"
"..Fine...I...Can't...continue..." He fell.
He began to breathe heavily. We didn't approach. with one final sigh, he cursed us, and died. He began to fade away
and in his place was a glowing sword with a blue aura. It was brilliant looking. I picked it up, and put it in my robe.
Crimson looked at me in awe, as did Triple.
"Balmung ..." Said a female voice.
I turned around ...and couldn't believe my eyes...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be Continued...
Final Chapter, The Epilogue, Coming soon!
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