Dungeons and Dragons

The Die Master

Chapter 6: Rebirth, Destruction, and Disappearance

Mallacar nodded and said, "At long last, my guest have arrived."

"Your reign of terror is over, Mallacar!" Hank shouted.

"And when we beat you, you're gonna bring Bobby back!" Diana said.

Mallacar smiled and pointed up.

Everyone looked to where he was pointed and gasped.

Stuck to the ceiling, within a large, red Heart Stone, was Venger.

"If I were you, I would leave now, because I intend on doing something much worse than that to you," Mallacar said.

"No way! We're doing this for Bobby!" Diana shouted.

"Well, then, before we start, there is something I must-," Mallacar suddenly stopped to lash out and grab something behind him. There was a strangled gasp as Sheila suddenly appeared, with Mallacar's hand wrapped around her neck.

"You again! How pathe- ARRGH!" Mallacar roared as he was suddenly knocked forward, letting go of Sheila. Sheila looked down to Uni standing there with her head bowed and her horn at the ready.

Mallacar snarled and got up, running his hand down his back. Uni had snuck in, waiting for the right moment, and had struck without warning, pricking him in the back while knocking him forward.

"Balthazar better be right about this, because I certainly don't want to do this after that!" Mallacar thought bitterly as he drew out a 20-sided golden die. He then threw the die and shouted, "Die of Rebirth!"

The die landed on 15 and glew with a dazzling light.

"He is just a boy, a 15 should suffice," Mallacar thought.

The light shot into the ceiling, and formed into a huge, shinning portal. The whole world seemed to shake violently, and then, Bobby fell from the mystical opening, yelling out fearfully as he landed on the ground, his Thunder Club hitting the ground next to him with a mighty thud.

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Bobby felt that he was being gently held by very familiar arms. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up into the tear filled eyes of Sheila. Uni came close to him and licked his face enthusiastically.

Bobby laughed and said, "Relax Uni, I'm here to stay!"

Sheila then pulled Bobby into a tight hug.

"Hey! Sheila!" Bobby said with an embarrassed blush.

"Come on, we're getting you out of here," Sheila said, her voice chocked with tears of joy.

"No!" Bobby said as he wiggled free of her grip.

"Wha-?" Sheila stammered out as Bobby quickly picked up his club.

Bobby hefted the club over his shoulder and pointed challengingly at Mallacar, "You big fat cheater! Get ready to loose!"

"Really?" Mallacar asked sarcastically.

"Yeah! You may have one last time, but you won't win this time!" Bobby said.

Mallacar's eyes widened, the way he was speaking, it all made sense now. Somehow, the six wizards had somehow spoken to him, and told him the story of how he took control of the Realm. Mallacar felt a lump form in his throat when he realized something else, he may have been told about the reincarnation! Such an idea would certainly grant this Barbarian an untold amount of confidence, which would then yield an untold amount of strength!

Bobby turned to Sheila and said, "Listen sis, I'm sorry I made you worry, I should have been more careful last time, but I can't just watch from the sidelines. We all have to beat this guy together. It's hard to explain, but we just have to." Bobby then glared at Mallacar and said, "And I've just got to beat this guy!"

Bobby turned to see that on his left side was Sheila, and on his right side was Uni.

"I won't let this guy touch you again, Bobby!" Sheila said.

Uni rubbed against Bobby's head, and the stood in a battle stance.

"You guys have got a plan right? Cause we'll follow along!" Bobby said.

"No problem Bobby!" Hank said.

"I won't mess up this time," Presto said.

Eric sighed and said, "Look, you didn't mess up the first time, so it's all good. Now get some confidence, okay."

Presto nodded, "Hm, okay, thanks Eric."

Mallacar clenched his fists. Why should he be worried? He was still too powerful to be defeated!

"I shall now kill you all a second time! But it'll be the third time for you, Balthazar!" Mallacar thought.

Mallacar grabbed one of his dice and shouted, "I only brought the Barbarian back to make my official victory over you more complete! I cannot be defeated! Now – PREPARE TO DIE!"

Mallacar threw his yellow Die of Weakness, and it landed on 7. It's power shot towards Hank. A sudden idea entered Eric's mind, and he went with instantly. He threw his shield like a Frisbee, and it blocked the spell just in time.

The yellow energy was sent right back at it's caster, causing him to shout in rage. Mallacar slumped forward a bit and said, "No, this can't be!"

"Nice move, Eric! Now we can get him good!" Presto said as he reached into his hat.

Mallacar looked at Presto with envy, "Grr, I'm too weak to use my Die of Possession!"

"We're gonna bowl you down!" Presto said, but then, his hat began to shake wildly, and a huge bowling ball nearly as big as him shot out toward Mallacar.

"Die of Reflection!" Mallacar shouted, and the indigo die landed on 6.

The bowling ball hit the shield, and expanded 6 time bigger. Presto shouted in fear as the massive ball rolled towards him.

"Anyone for extreme baseball?" Bobby shouted as he jumped in front of Presto and dealt the ball a mighty blow with his Thunder Club.

The ball soared back towards Mallacar. The wizard began to panic and quickly threw out his red Die of Attack. Mallacar cried out in joy as it landed on the full 4. He roared with power as he sent out a huge blast of Arcane Fire that obliterated the bowling ball. Mallacar looked up and smiled, only to be hit square in the chest by an energy arrow that shot through the smoke.

Mallacar was slammed back hard, but he got back up and threw his blue Die of Defense. The result, a 1.

"What! You are joking! You've got to be kidding me!" Mallacar shouted.

"You need a time out, Mallacar!" Diana shouted as she pole vaulted over him, swung her Javelin Staff, and knocked the wizard off of his feet.

"I'm next!" Bobby said as he ran forward with his club.

"You little pest! I'll take your strength for myself! Die of Draining!" Mallacar said as he threw the die. The 20 sided crystal landed on 12, and it sent a blast towards Bobby.

Sheila let out a scream and jumped out and covered Bobby with her cloak. The was a quick flash as the spell hit the cloak and dissipated.

"What? The cloak cancels out my power?" Mallacar said, "No matter, this Die cannot be blocked! Die of Blindness!"

Mallacar threw the die, and it landed on 1. There was a huge flash of green light. Sheila stumbled backward, revealing herself and Bobby, but she was too busy clutching her eyes to notice.

Bobby was really angry now, and he was running around with his eyes closed, swinging his club like crazy, "Where are you, you jerk! Come on! Let me hit you! Quit hiding!"

Mallacar laughed, but was cut off when a cloth came shooting out of Presto's hat and wrapped around his head, gagging him.

Eric pointed and burst out laughing.

Mallacar, not amused, ripped off the cloth and snarled, "Pathetic fool! Arcane Reach!" Mallacar's hand glew red, and long red arm of magic energy shot towards him.

Eric screamed and hid behind his shield, but the arm grabbed the shield and pulled hard.

"Hang on, Eric!" Diana shouted, and she smacked away the arm with her Javelin Staff.

"Scorching Ray!" Mallacar shouted, and he launched deadly lazer out towards Eric and Diana.

Diana deflected the lazer with her Javelin Staff, sending the ray in Sheila's direction. Eric quickly jumped in front of the blinded Sheila and deflected the lazer with his Griffin Shield. When Presto saw the ray heading in his direction, he quickly reached into his Hat of Many Spells, and pulled out just what he needed, a hand mirror.

Bobby stopped swinging wildly as the minute of blindness came to an end. He looked up, only to see the Scorching Ray screaming towards him from Presto's mirror.

Uni brayed angrily and jumped in front of Bobby. "No Uni, get out of the way!" Bobby shouted in fear. However, right next to Uni, something appeared. Bobby gasped as the ghost-like image of Balthazar riding on his unicorn appeared to him. Time seemed to slow down as the wizard turned and gave Bobby a cheerful wink. Then, quick as a flash, the spirit of the wizard entered into Bobby, and the spirit of the unicorn entered into Uni.

And then, the final move came to the young Barbarian's mind.

"Wait for it!" Bobby shouted.

Uni stood in determination as the Scorching Ray zoomed towards her. She didn't move a muscle as the ray struck her horn directly.

"Teleport!" Bobby shouted.

Uni brayed in triumph, and vanished, only to reappear an instant latter, right in front of Mallacar. After appearing, Uni pointed her horn, and the Scorching Ray shot out, and blazed right through Mallacar's chest.

"!" Mallacar screeched as he fell backwards, his body quickly catching fire and burning right before their eyes.

"Doesn't this seem a little harsh!" Eric s with wide eyes.

"No, it doesn't!" Sheila said angrily.

Mallacar snarled and reached up, saying, "If I'm going down, I'm taking one of you with me! Arcane Reach!"

The long, red hand zoomed out and grabbed Presto by the arm. Presto only had time to cry out in surprise, right before Mallacar's body burst into sparks, promptly followed by the Arcane Reach, and then Presto as well.

"No! not again! Not Presto!" Diana shouted.

"But- but- Hey! We won, didn't we?" Bobby said, looking very puzzled.

Hank clenched his fists and teeth in anger, "What did he do? Where could Presto be?" he thought.

I stink at writing angst. Therefore, I did my best to avoid focusing on Sheila as much as possible. Also, I made it slightly vague to the young ones that the Die of Doom's effect actually killed the victim in it's whirlwind, so they wouldn't show angst. Also, I had Dungeon Master promptly inform them about Mallacar's power of the Die of Rebirth, so that they'd be further confused of whether Bobby was really dead or not, and therefore wouldn't need to have much angst.