Demonic Forces Arc

Chapter 8: The Trap

That night, Nunda and Reyla wore cloaks. Nunda kept his hood up as usual. Reyla kept her hood down. She looked at Nunda.

"Ready?" she asked.

He nodded and the two went to the bright glowing palace in the middle of the city. They traveled stealthily as guards would definitely be patrolling since the captain's death. They snuck past several patrols and reached the walls of the palace.

"How can we scale this?" Reyla whispered.

"Simple. I'll climb up and open the gate," Nunda replied.

Nunda began climbing the walls. When he got up, he snuck past archers and opened the gate. Reyla quickly ran through the gate. He met up with her.

"Alright. Now where might the Barons be?" Reyla asked.

"I can find out for you," Nunda said and went into a small meditation.

Suddenly, a large leopard like beast appeared in the form of an apparition.

"What the h- "Reyla said.

"It is my spirit. The spirit of the Nunda," said Nunda.

The Nunda began climbing around the palace. It was a huge animal but somehow managed to stay stealthy. The big cat then disappeared as it went higher up onto the palace. When the Nunda returned, it said;

"They're at the top of the palace."

"Thank you my spirit," Nunda said and the beast faded away.

The two entered the palace. They walked into the ballroom which had a grand stair case which split two ways as well as being very spacious. It was dark and too quiet. Suddenly, the lights came on and guards surrounded the two. The Human and Elf Barons walked down the stairs clapping.

"Impressive. You've managed to sneak in to this palace," said the Elf Baron.

"You two shall die knowing you made it this far," said the Human Baron, "All units, attack!"

Numerous guards ran at them. Nunda drew his massive sword and cut down three with one swing. Reyla had her sword out and dropped two more guards. Nunda and Reyla continued killing the guards when suddenly one big guard with an axe appeared.

"Move!" he commanded and the other guards stopped charging and listened to the big guy.

Nunda and Reyla look at him.

"Impressive skill set," he said sarcastically "They're just a bunch of weaklings compared to me!"

"Oh yeah? And just who might you be?" Reyla asked.

"I am Gradrick! Champion of the city!" he said proudly.

Gradrick drew his weapon. It was a glaive. Nunda looked at Reyla.

"Reyla, I'll deal with this guy. The Barons are leaving, believing that we'll be killed. Track them down," Nunda said.

Reyla nodded and waited for Nunda to begin his battle. Gradrick came rushing at Nunda spinning his glaive fast. He then slammed his glaive onto Nunda. Nunda blocked the attack. Reyla then darted around the two, jumped over the guards and ran up one of the staircases. Some guards followed her.

Gradrick then began swinging his glaive on opposite sides of Nunda's body. He blocked Gradrick's attacks but then was pushed back by the glaive. Nunda swung his sword and the two clashed weapons several times. The force from Gradrick's swings were barely enough for Nunda to handle. Nunda was almost staggered from every hit Gradrick dealt. Nunda clashed weapons with him again. When the weapons made contact, Gradrick broke Nunda's sword. Nunda was shocked to see his weapon had broken in two.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! How do you expect to beat me now with no weapon!" said Gradrick with a cocky tone.

Nunda knew he needed a weapon to kill Gradrick. Though there were several weapons lying around from slain guards, he knew Gradrick would kill him as soon as he touched it. Nunda had an idea. He clasped the broken sword and waited for Gradrick's next attack. When Gradrick swung, Nunda ducked under attack, grabbed Gradrick's arm and stabbed his wrist with the broken hilt. Gradrick roared and fell back, dropping his weapon. Nunda picked up the glaive.

"No Please! Mercy!" cried Gradrick.

Nunda crashed the glaive into Gradrick's head, splitting it in two. The remaining guards ran at the sight of Gradrick's death.

Reyla chased down the Elven Baron. Guards followed behind but she caught up to the Elven Baron. The Baron drew his sword and blocked one of Reyla's strikes.

"Stupid girl! You think you can kill me so easily? Ha!" said the Baron.

Reyla smirked.

"Then allow me to test your skill!" she said.

She engaged in sword duel with the Baron, exchanging several blows. The clashed weapons continuously. The Baron had a tough time keeping up with Reyla's face paced duel style. Just as Reyla was about to execute the finishing blow, a crossbow bolt pierced her shoulder. The Human Baron had been hiding and fired the bolt in her back. Reyla smirked, ignoring the pain. She quickly disarmed the Baron and stabbed him through the heart. The Human Baron reloaded his crossbow and aimed it for Reyla's head when suddenly, there was an axe in his back. Reyla saw that the guards had stopped and watched as the Human Baron fell over dead. Behind him was a Dwarf. Reyla assumed this was the Dwarf Baron.

"Thank you for dealing with those two. There's no way I could have done it on my own," he said.

"So you're the Dwarf Baron I assume?" she asked.

The Dwarf nodded.

"Indeed. I've been waiting for these two to be killed for years," he said.

"But what about the guards my partner and I killed?" Reyla asked.

"They were unfortunate casualties in this hidden war. They shall receive proper burial and their families given compensation for their deaths. But with those two gone, this city can become a better place."

She saw Nunda come up with a bloody glaive over his shoulder.

"You to shall be rewarded. What is it you need?"

"Transportation to the Sky City," said Reyla.

The next day, a train arrived on route to the Sky City. Reyla and Nunda boarded it and looked at the city.

"Well it's under better rule now," Reyla said.

"I hope so," said Nunda.

The train began moving. Reyla and Nunda looked back at the city.

The memory ends and shifts back to the booth Nunda and Gwilln were talking in.

"Well damn. I'm impressed," said Gwilln.

"Yup. I'd say it's one of the highlights of our careers," said Nunda.

Suddenly Red Dragon Knight appeared before them.

"Interesting to see you here. I didn't think pubs were your kind of place," said Nunda.

"They're not," Red Dragon Knight replied.

"Whatever. Why are you here anyway?"

"I want to show Gwilln something."

"Why me?" Gwilln asked.

"Because you should know something about me."

"Very well."

Gwilln followed him to a cemetary. It appeared to be one for fallen Rangers. Red Dragon Knight turned to him.