OoO( 40 )OoO
Albion was in chaos. Everywhere were there minions burning and killing, while heroes fought them and saved lives. The entire landscape was ablaze as towns came under attack of the mighty force of Jack's army. People ran for cover and screamed as the dragonites roamed the streets of towns and cities attacking anything that moved. There was no longer any safe place for the innocent.
Lyle had gone back to the guild after his battle with Maze. He ran through the doors and confronted the guildmaster. "You!" he shouted walking up as if to attack him. "You knew about this didn't you!" he shouted.
The guildmaster looked at him and shook his head. "I knew nothing of the workings of Maze. Anytime he was in the guild, he stayed in his room and kept to himself. Any other time he was gone." said the old man. "But now is not the time for such thoughts Lyle, the land is in chaos now that Jack has the key." said the guildmaster.
"I know. As I thought it would be. He also has my mother." said Lyle as he clenched his fist. "Why does he need her! Why can't he just leave my family alone!" he shouted.
"He needs her blood." said the guildmaster. Lyle turned and looked at him. "He has the key, but that only allows him to find the sword. He needs her blood to pull it from its place." he said regretfully.
Lyle glared at him. "Where is he now!" he asked.
"He is going to activate the focus sites all over Albion. It's these that unlock the sword, and now that he has the key he has the power to activate them. The nearest one is in Greatwood Forest." he said. As soon as the words left his mouth, the hero ran towards the doors and kicked them open, making his way towards Greatwood Forest.
OoOoO
Van and Talon had effectively eliminated the minions invading Greatwood. Van and his acolytes all sat around the focus site as Talon searched the landscape for more. Van looked at her and smiled. "Hey whirlwind, sit down and take a rest. They're all dead." he said.
She smirked at him, then began searching some more. "It's not minions I'm looking for. This is one of the sites that Jack is supposed to be coming after. So I need to watch for him." she said.
"You mean me?" asked a dark voice behind Van. He immediately stood and went to attack, but him and the students were immediately catapulted from the site by an unseen energy. He laughed as Van got back to his feet and Talon stared at him dumbly.
"H...How..?" she asked. "Nobody can get past my senses..." she said staring at him.
"Oh, it wasn't hard girl. Believe me. Now then..." he said raising the crimson red key into the air. The clear stone at the top shined brightly, causing the stone under Jack to raise out of its seat and spin in the air. Glowing red energy emerged from the stone as Jack floated gently down to the ground. He laughed silently to himself. "Only four more to go." he said.
"You aren't going anywhere!" shouted someone behind them. They all saw Lyle come running, nearly out of breath, out of the woods. He kept running however, strait at Jack. "Give back my mother you bastard!" he shouted and jumped up sword in hand. Jack smiled, then vanished as soon as Lyle's blade touched him. He appeared behind them and they all turned to watch him.
"You and me will fight in due time boy. But, until then, I'll let you play with this." he said as he held up a closed fist. His fist glowed bright blue, causing something appear right in front of him. It was a giant, made completely of bones and armor. "Have fun with my friend the summoner." he said, then tore an opening in space behind him with the key.
"Lyle! You go after him, we can handle this!" shouted Talon as the monstrous armor stepped closer. Lyle nodded and ran past the beast, dodging an attack and diving into the portal after Jack.
Talon was about to attack, when Van held out an arm. "I've got this one." he said. Talon nodded and the creature raised its hands into the air. A ball of bright energy flared to life in its hands and began to grow as Van ran towards the creature. He jumped out of the way just in time as the energy hit the ground where he stood a moment ago. An explosion sent the nearby students and Talon flying, while Van was slammed harshly into the floating stone by the power of the attack. "Damn...his magic is strong." he said as he slowly rose to his feet. The monster grabbed a weapon from its back and swung it at the hero, challenging him.
Van stood his ground and smiled. "You asked for it..." he said as he ran at the creature again.
OoOoO
When he reappeared, he was standing outside Darkwood and Hobbe cave. And as soon as he was visible, he was set on by a dozen minions. He immediately slammed his palms together, causing a force of energy to slam them all backwards. Drawing his sword, he immediately attacked. He dove at one minion, driving the tip of his sword through the beasts chest and killing it instantly. Two more rose and one launched a strange spell at him with its stave. Lyle turned to dodge but the spell hit him in the back, causing him to fly and hit the ground. He felt his back burning, and now he didn't have his weapon.
"Could they throw any more challenges at me?" he asked irritated. Rising to his feet, he turned and immediately a look of shock was on his face. From the forest, two black blurs attacked the small army of dragonites. One of them attacked like a tornado with a small curved blade, and the other tore limbs from the beasts with massive strength. Jumping in, Lyle grabbed the last minion and hurled it into a tree, followed by a massive stomp to the back of the neck, cracking its spine. When the battle was finished, the two lycanthropes nodded to Lyle. "Thank you for your assistance." he said.
Athena nodded. "It was our pleasure. You are our friend Lyle, it is our duty." she said. "What is your business here? I thought you had to go to Hook Coast..." she said.
"Yeah, now I am looking for a man in a red cloak. I chased him here from Hook Coast and now I lost him." he said.
"A red cloak huh? We saw him enter Hobbe Cave. He seemed as if he was in a hurry." said Hades, wiping the dragon blood from his blade with a cloth.
Lyle smirked. "I'll bet he was." said Lyle. "Thanks for the help again, now I have to go." he said.
"We will come with you. Hobbe Cave can be dangerous." said Athena, with Hades nodding.
"At least until you find this man you are looking for." said the male.
"Alright..." said the warrior as he grabbed his sword again. "But we have to be fast if we want to catch him." he said. They nodded and they vanished into the dark cave.
OoOoO
Jack arrived in the dark room with the doors flying open. As soon as he entered, he was set upon by an army of Hobbes. They charged up the carved stairs towards him. He glared at the short creatures and waved his arm. "Filth..." he said as two minions smashed the front lines and slaughtered any of the creatures in their way. As soon as the way was clear again, Jack stepped down the stairs and approached the stone. "Ahhh...there you are." he said laughing to himself. Suddenly, he was interrupted by a yell.
"Jack!" shouted Lyle as he launched himself from the ledge instead of taking the stairs. The two wolves attacked the dragonites immediately and without mercy. Jack dodged Lyle's attack easily and smashed him in the back with the key. Lyle hit the stone, then turned to attack again. Jack vanished and Lyle looked around the room. "Jack! Where are you you coward!" he shouted. Suddenly, he noticed a bright light coming from the other side of the stone. Lyle turned to the stone again and watched it rise out of the ground like it was surfacing from underwater.
Jack laughed maniacly. "What's the matter hero? Can't keep up with me?" he asked mockingly. Lyle's face contorted to rage and he lept the gap where the stone lay before. Jack grunted and vanished across the room again as Lyle's blade nearly clipped his throat. "Hmmm...almost got me Lyle, but you can't beat me if you can't catch me!" he shouted, then tore another hole with the key and vanished into it.
Lyle dashed across the room and dove into the portal before it closed.
OoOoO
Van stood bleeding from his forehead and mouth, bruised everywhere and sore from head to toe. He stared at the monster before him who no longer had a weapon since its arm had been removed by one of Van's spells. It stood groaning loudly as its torn body rattled. Roaring loudly, it charged another spell and fired it at the mage. Van moved and the attack flew by him. "You!" he shouted at one of the acolytes. "Over here!"
The acolyte ran over and Van grabbed him from behind, stepped up on his back and launched himself onto the giant focus site in the air. Another of the blasts came his way and he fell flat on the stone, letting it fly overhead. Standing to his feet, he yelled out loud as he charged his energy again. This time, his energy was overflowing, making it start to fly circles around him. Slowly, the runes on the stone underneath him began to glow a very bright white. The monster summoned another energy attack and sent it flying towards the mage.
Van held his ground and took the hit in the chest, but the energy merely evaportated and was absorbed by the powerful wizard. He yelled louder as his body began to tingle with the power flowing through him. His eyes now glowing with the energy, he aimed his hands and released it all. A beam of powerful plasma energy hit the enemy and completely annihilated anything that it touched. The summoner screamed in agony as its body was torn to shreds and blown away. When Van stopped, the power died down and he fell to his knees gasping. Talon was immediately at his side smirking.
"Any more of that and you would have sunk Albion." she said, now looking at the gargantuan crater he made.
He chuckled, then sat up. Talon started to feel something she had felt before. She felt something cover her body like a blanket, then begin to heal her injuries. She looked at Van and noticed his concentration. When he finished healing them, he jumped down from the stone and walked over to the students. "That is your first lesson for today kids." he said breathless.
"How to blow up a country?" asked one of the acolytes, making the others and Talon laugh.
He glared at the new guy, then smiled. "No..." he said standing up strait. "If ever you see something bigger and stronger than you, don't challenge it unless you are sure you can win." he said plopping over into the grass.
"The roads are cleared, we should check on the entrance to Bowerstone. Make sure nothing is going on in the square." said Talon.
"Damn...I was just resting too." he said as he stood. "Oh well, whats the fun in just sitting here? Let's go get rid of some monsters." he said, causing a cheer to erupt from the acolytes.
OoOoO
Thunder blocked a slash from one of the reptiles with his shield before kicking the monster in the stomach and making it double over. Hefting his shield, he pulled it back and slammed its flat surface across the face of the serpent warrior, making it fly back and hit the ground screaming. Thunder planted a heavy boot into its chest before raising his sword and stabbing the blade through the minions screeching mouth.
Pulling his blade free, he stood back to back with three guards in the Gibbet Woods. They were surrounded by the creatures, and the guards weren't putting up much of a fight. "Huh...I didn't think now would be the time to learn this..." he said to himself.
"Wotsat mate? You talkin' to yaself?" asked one of the guards.
"Well, I've always wanted to try something outside lightning." he said. "You three! Get away from here fast! I'll clear the way!" he shouted. Before the guards could question him, he charged forward and used his shield to smash one of the dragonites backwards. The others backed up out of surprise from the attack and he slashed one of their heads off.
The guards ran forward and all three took out another minion with a simultaneous slash from all three. They busted the lines open and ran into the distance before turning around and seeing a geyser of fire tear the ground apart, shredding the enemies around the warrior. Thunder's attack blew any that were still alive backwards. The guards ran forward yelling battle cries and began hacking and slashing at the remaining survivors. In seconds any that were left alive after Thunder's attack were dead.
He smiled and stared at his hand. "I think I can get used to this..." he said. Suddenly, he was staring at Jack. The man from his nightmares just appeared out of nowhere. Thunder gritted his teeth and had an iron grip on his sword handle. But he was ordered not to attack Jack. The guards turned and saw Jack as well, then raised their swords to attack him. "NO!" shouted Thunder. They immediately stopped. "You have only moments to flee from here Jack before I avenge my sister a hundred times over..." he said through pure hatred.
Jack turned and looked at Thunder. "Ah...remembering that day brings back happy memories of childhood slaughter." he said laughing. Thunder roared and shot lightning at the man, but it hit the ground where Jack stood before. Suddenly, Lyle appeared out of nowhere and looked around. Thunder stared in surprise.
"Farmboy?" he asked. Lyle spun and looked at him.
"Thunder! Where did Jack go!" he shouted.
Thunder smirked. "Follow me!" he shouted, then they all went sprinting up the hill and towards the focus site deeper in the woods.
OoOoO
When they arrived, it was too late. Jack had already activated the site and there was a lingering portal where he had teleported again. "I'm going after him!" shouted Lyle and he ran for the door. Suddenly, Thunder grabbed him by the shoulder. Lyle stopped and looked at Thunder astonished. "What is it?" he asked impatiently.
"Get him Lyle...for Whisper." said the dark knight. Lyle stared at him a moment, then nodded.
"I'll get him for Whisper." he said, then ran through the portal again.
OoOoO
He appeared in Witchwood this time. He looked around at the dead looking forest and saw the red cloak fluttering in front of him. He immediately ran as fast as he could towards the man in the distance. Jack heard him coming and smirked. Turning around, he waited until Lyle approached before speaking.
"I have a gift for you boy! It's an old friend of yours who wants very much to see you again." he said darkly.
"Fight me yourself Jack! Quit running!" he shouted at the man. Lyle grabbed his bow and pulled an arrow back, releasing it and sending the barbed shaft flying towards the dark warrior. But Jack merely swatted it away with his blade. Taking his own sword, he ran at Jack, but a giant of a man stepped in his way.
"Lyle the Saber." said the man, taking the two giant blades from his back. "How long has it been?" he asked.
Lyle glared at the man darkly. "Twinblade. Didn't I tell you never to show your face to me again?" he asked.
"Yes you did. But ever since you defeated me I have been nothing but the laughing stock of Albion." he said. "You know how hard it is to live in a country that thinks you are a washed up old crook?" he asked as he swung his massive swords at the hero.
"Maybe you should retire Twinblade. It's about time you got out of the bandit picture." said a voice from behind them. Both Theresa and William were standing on the path that Lyle had just came down. She walked over and stepped in front of Lyle. "You have two choices. Either let my brother pass, and give up your life of unhonesty, or die where you stand." she said.
Twinblade stared down at the girl he had raised and anger contorted is face. "You ungrateful little wench! I took you in when you were dying! I fed you and gave you a home for years and you betray me now!" he shouted.
She turned to Lyle and said, "Go after Jack. I've got this taken care of." Lyle looked from Theresa to Twinblade, then ran after the red cloaked man again. Twinblade immediately ran for Lyle, but Theresa was amazingly fast. She stood between them again.
"Get out of my way!" shouted the giant man as he swung at her. She lowerd her head slightly as the blades nicked her hair. Twinblade looked astonished. "How did you do that? You're blind!" he shouted and swung again. He swung his swords in a flailing motion, but it was useless. She always dodged the keen edges of the giant swords.
She drew her pointed blade and held it in front of her. "This is your last chance Twinblade, escape with your life." she said calmly. He raised both swords into the air and shouted a loud battle cry. Then, before he could swing he went silent. He looked down at the sword sticked out of his chest. Theresa stood, with one hand on the sword blade, the other hanging at her side. The blade had sunk just below his armor and up into his chest. "You chose this for yourself. Your hatred and anger came back to haunt you. And now, everything you ever did to me is repaid in two fell strokes." she said. Jerking the blade free she spun and slashed through his throat with the blade.
Blood sprayed the ground and the giant fell over dead. "I see you two had a lot of conflict with each other before." he said.
She turned to him and smiled. "No longer." she said. Turning towards the cullis gate, she looked back at him. "You stay here in case anymore come this way. I know where Jack is heading next. I'm going to be there to see his end." she said. He nodded and she walked away towards the cullis gate.
OoOoO
Jack activated the last stone and felt exhilirated. "So close, so close I can feel the power!" he said as he held the key tightly in his hands. He looked over and smirked as Lyle ran up again. "Aren't you a persistant one? How far do you plan on chasing me?" he asked in an amused tone.
"All the way to hell!" shouted the warrior as he charged the masked man. Jack created the final portal and stepped back into it.
"Now is your chance Saber." he said as he faded again...