Chapter 9: TARRASQUE

(Disclaimer is at the prologue of this story) Story may not be accurate to that of written accounts in various sources.


Colors of many tints and shades flashed before Rikimaru's eyes. Nortrom had been engulfed by the light so suddenly that the satyr and troll just stood there gaping as the horror unfold. More importantly, the warning that boomed from the casket in a deep voice kept ringing in their heads.

Tarrasque has spoken and you shall fall. By Style's blade and Roshan's glee.

One word rang inside Rikimaru's head: Tarrasque

"Who are you, Tarrasque?!" Rikimaru exclaimed to the heavens. "Release the elf!"

The light immediately subsided. Rikimaru was breathing hard as if he ran a mile. Jah'Rakal was cowering by some rocks behind him.

The form of a huge blood-red spirit stood over Rikimaru. The essence of the spirit seemed to come from the casket in the center of the clearing. Nortrom was nowhere in sight.

You call me with no respect, mortal?

The voice came from everywhere. Fear enveloped Rikimaru's mind. He could not think properly. This creature was far bigger than anything he'd ever managed in his life…

Speak up, mortal! Lest you want Tarrasque's judgment to fall…

"Are you the mortal form of the spirit in my vision?" Rikimaru dared question.

The creature paused for a while. It seemed that he had not expected Rikimaru to ask such a question.

I am eternal, unlike you, mortal. I have no mortal form.

Rikimaru shook his head. The voice and resemblance to the one in his dreams was unmistakable. "You lie, great spirit, you lie."

Again, the spirit paused. It seemed to be doing some critical thinking.

You dare mock a spirit, mortal? You dare challenge me?

"I dare challenge the spirit that would destroy Azeroth," Rikimaru told the spirit straight on. He knew that this was the evil that would rise to destroy his country. He knew it was the truth…

A mortal versus an immortal? How foolish... The spirit laughed cruelly.

"I am stronger than you think."

Such bravado. The spirit was mocking Rikimaru. If you are strong, I am stronger…

In a flash of light, the room was suddenly filled with four spirits all blood-red in color, all look-alikes of Tarrasque.

"That'd be 'em Style! That'd be 'em Style!" Jah'Rakal exclaimed from behind, pointing at the weapon held by the spirit.

It was a giant axe, bigger than anything Rikimaru had ever seen. It was glowing with tremendous power that sent fear to the satyr.

Laugh now, mortal. Do you think you can defeat me?

Rikimaru was speechless.


The earth split into two underneath the gigantic golem, making it lose balance. Leshrac was rushing under and out of rocks, buying his allies some time to get past the beast. Abbadon was running as fast as he can while summoning his otherworldly powers to create an orbital shield that would protect him for the meantime. Balanar was running as swift as he can through the terrain. The cave was raining with bolts of rock summoned by the immense power of the golem.

"Run, Leshrac," Balanar screamed. "I'll crush him myself."

Balanar summoned his powers of Void while the Tormented Soul made his escape. The golem stumbled over from the attack. This was just what Balanar wanted. Sending the monster a Crippling Fear, he lunged and struck a dozen times in speed. The Night Stalker would have done more if not for the calls of Abbadon.

"Stop, Balanar, stop! We are wasting time."

Balanar regretfully ended his pounding streak and swiftly jumped rock after rock towards his comrades. "Sorry, got carried away…"

"It doesn't matter," Abbadon replied. "The golem is the least of our worries."

"Least?" Balanar looked surprised.

"I sense… Tarrasque…" Leshrac voiced. "He has… been angered…"

"Tarrasque happens to be the spirit of this place," Abbadon explained. "He's the connection that we'll make for our Ethereal friend."

The trio clambered over rocks as swiftly as they can. A conversation seemed to be going on at the center of the cave. They could almost hear the booming sounds of an omnipotent being.

Laugh now, mortal. Do you think you can defeat me?

Abbadon's eyes grew wide when he heard this. "Balanar! Our enemies must not defeat Tarrasque! Stop them!"

Balanar grew startled, but seeing Abbadon's commanding face, he immediately jumped on the task.

Rushing with the power of night, Balanar sped through the rocks hoping against hope that it was not too late. He knew that a great spirit such as this was so powerful that mortals could never defeat it alone. But he did not know the strengths of their hidden enemy. Who knows what they could achieve with defeating a great spirit?

Rikimaru was about to charge through the clearing when a blur ran past him and tripped him over. He hit his forehead on the rough floor causing his head to bleed.

"Stop, satyr."

Rikimaru rolled over to find a dreadlord standing above him. "What the hell did you do?"

"You're the worst of their kind," the dreadlord said holding out one hand to pull up the satyr. "Stay out of this fight; I'll bring you to safety..."

Rikimaru did not take the hand, but chose to stand by himself. Seeing the gesture, the dreadlord sighed. "You try to hold your honor 'til the very end. How noble, but how stupid."

Tarrasque laughed cruelly after discharging his Manta Style clones. You fight your blood feuds in front of me? How amusing…

The dreadlord continued to stare at the satyr. "Do you want to die?"

"I will gladly die," Rikimaru spoke valiantly. "But I would not die in your hands, dreadlord..."

The dreadlord cursed. "If you don't want to move away, I will have to kill you."

In a zip, the dreadlord was gone. Before Rikimaru could reach his bearings on the situation, a blurred figure rushed at him and drove him to the ground where Jah'Rakal stood speechless.

"Undead!" Jah'Rakal screeched. "Undead, mon!"

"Shut up, troll," the dreadlord spoke. In a swift slash, Jah'Rakal was sent to the other side of the cavern. Tarrasque laughed in glee at this point.

Rikimaru, seeing that the dreadlord was distracted for that second, summoned the required mana and Blinked across the room towards his fallen ally. Rikimaru wiped his bloody face and breathed hard. Jah'Rakal was unconscious on the floor. The dreadlord was standing there, glaring at his escape.

"I'll deal with you later," the dreadlord grunted, and left in a flash.

Rikimaru sat down beside his unconscious comrade to take in everything that was happening. The sudden appearance of a dreadlord with strange powers could only mean one thing. The Undead are here, and they want to take the power of Tarrasque!

Tarrasque did not seem to notice. Isn't that just funny! I can't believe how crazy you mortals are! Are all of you here to challenge me?

Tarrasque! Another booming voice erupted from the heavens.

Tarrasque was immediately distracted. He remembered this voice quite well.Cenarius? How… How is it possible?

A pale-faced human and a horse-like ghost appeared from behind the rocks. The ghost was shining brighter than ever. The voice seemed to come from him.

You say that I am Cenarius…

You are a Tormented Soul! Tarrasque was burning in rage at the desecration. The work of the Lich King! How dare you defile the soul of a great spirit!

I have come to destroy you, Tarrasque. The Lich King will make good use of your powers…

I am immortal! You will never hope to defeat me!

The Cenarius-like creature laughed hard as if Tarrasque had just told one big lie.

Immediately, lightning from the skies thundered upon Tarrasque disarming him. The Manta Style landed with a thud upon the cavern floor just beside where Rikimaru and Jah'Rakal were hiding from the scene.

Laugh now, Tarrasque… Laugh now…


Balanar, at that moment, charged at the disarmed spirit. He was definitely weaker without the Manta Style. With speed as his greatest weapon, Balanar jumped from wall to wall striking every bit of the spirit he encountered.

Abbadon attacked with a shout, summoning the mana to cover himself with an Aphotic Shield which would disperse the damage would be receiving.

Leshrac just kept on calling Lightning Bolt after Lightning Bolt on the creature. It was obvious that Tarrasque was losing to these three powerful heroes.

As the battle reared on, Rikimaru woke his troll friend up. Jah'Rakal was quite surprised when he gained consciousness. It was unbelievable! The Undead were actually winning over a great spirit!

Leshrac approached the two of them with a clatter of hooves. "Do you... realize... what's happening...?"

The duo immediately armed themselves when the Tormented Soul approached.

"Are you the Tormented Soul of Cenarius?" Rikimaru asked viciously.

Leshrac faced the satyr. "Long ago... I was... Now... I am… the King's... servant..."

The Tormented Soul summoned energy from his palm and immediately Rikimaru knew he was going to strike. With his remaining mana, the satyr jumped to a Blink Strike and struck through his enemy. Leshrac flew across the cavern at the blow.

Rikimaru approached the Tormented Soul. "Are you getting something besides the Manta Style? Does the Lich King want to corrupt Tarrasque as well? Answer me!"

The Tormented Soul just laid there with his sad, sad face. "The King's… will… be done…"

The earth suddenly fell apart underneath Rikimaru. He almost fell into the abyss as the earth shook. Rikimaru just hung on for dear life.

"We… will have… his Heart…" the Tormented Soul approached Rikimaru. "We… will have… his Spectre…"

Leshrac charged his palm to summon a bolt of lightning but before he could cast it, a pack of trolls jumped upon him.

"Take that, Tormented-mon!" the voice of four Troll Warlords shouted in unison. The Manta Style blade was gleaming quite brightly in the Jah'Rakals' hands as they beat up the soul of Leshrac.

Rikimaru clambered up the hole and raised himself up. He could see Tarrasque was bloodied because of Balanar and Abbadon. What is the meaning of what the Tormented Soul said? His heart? His Spectre?

Abbadon struck Tarrasque countless of times in the chest. Balanar was trying to rip of the ribs of the spirit. They were both hitting in the general area…

"No…" Rikimaru suddenly realized. The Heart of Tarrasque must be connected with the Spectre! And once the Scourge have the Spectre on their side, they'd be unstoppable!

"Jah'Rakal! Stop them from getting the Heart!" Rikimaru exclaimed as he scrambled after the two undead heroes on the other side of the cavern. "Jah'Rakal!"

Abbadon struck once more. It was evident in his greedy eyes that he had struck gold. A beating red stump fell from the spirit's chest. It fell by Abbadon's feet. The death knight grinned. They had gotten their treasure...

For a brief moment, Tarrasque stared in agony at Rikimaru. For that few seconds that Tarrasque was still existent, Rikimaru knew from the spirit's glare that it was all over…

I have failed. Evil… will… reign…

Bursts of light filled the cavern. Different shades of different colors flashed in that very instant. A shout of immensity came from the casket of a great spirit. Tarrasque was no more…