Chapter 34 - The Face of Fear

The sun was still a while away from rising and Imunzo had allready been gone for a few hours, taking meticulous steps to prevent him from being spotted by whatever may be watching as he travelled closer to the volcano. The sounds of clanking metal could be heard among a strange and unrelenting sound which Imunzo could not place. Even though it was pitch black Imunzo could utilize his other senses to work out where he had to go. A strange smell began to fill the air and Imunzo’s nostrils. It was a mixture of burning and something not too far off the smell of sulphur. A early morning breeze cut through Imunzo’s kimono and against his body, making the hairs on his arm stand on end slightly even though he did not register the cold himself. Imunzo stopped dead in his tracks as he heard something rustle on the floor. Imunzo recognised the region where he was standing around as right where he and Valandt had camped out the night before Kaiazal had taken the castle and unleashed the magic of Lijitman, the castle was a brisk sprint away but he could not progress any further as something was coming. Imunzo jumped into the air and grabbed a tree branch, making as little noise as possible. Imunzo then put one of his feet on the trunk of the tree and hooked the other around the branch, he then silently hung there awaiting whatever was to come past. Imunzo was hanging upside down on the tree for some minutes before anything happened, a brief rustling of leaves being trod on the forest floor could be heard infrequently before that. The darkness made it difficult to fully recognise whatever it was that was walking around the forest floor and Imunzo’s pupils began to dilate when he realized that it was a skeleton. The skeleton was reminiscent of those that had decimated the fleet of ships at Wajem, the only differences being that it had no wings and carried with it a sword and shield. Imunzo waited as the skeleton walked until it was almost out of sight then went to jump down when the skeleton turned around and leapt at Imunzo, its blade fully extended. Thinking fast, Imunzo moved his head back as far as he could, then let all of his body apart from one arm drop from the branch, making hid body swinging around the branch as it extended. As Imunzo came back around to face the skeleton he plucked the sword from its grasp and it flew high up into the air. Imunzo swung around the branch another time, jumping off at the precise moment and retrieving the sword then landing on the rib cage of the skeleton and severing its head before it even had a chance to hit the floor. With that now taken care off, he dropped the sword and went to turn and make his way toward the volcano again except he stopped once more, the skeleton had picked up its head and put it back on. Imunzo turned to face the skeleton, who charged at Imunzo. Imunzo stood his ground motionless, his breathing not even apparent and waited for the correct moment, then when it came he slammed his fist hard into the skull of the skeleton breaking through it and turning half of it into dust. Imunzo then, to be sure that the skeleton would not bother him again, kicked it hard in the rib cage with his knee shattering it and then extended his leg making the skeleton fly backward and slam into the trunk of a tree. Imunzo waited a few moments to check that the skeleton was disposed of, then continued on his way through to scout what was going on at the volcano. Imunzo made his way through trees and shrubbery, pushing the final bushes of the small forest aside as the first rays of sunlight hit the area. Imunzo scanned over the clearing leading up to the volcano and swallowed hard. An entire army of skeletons of possibly millions had assembled leading up to it. Imunzo then looked to the very base of the volcano, where the army’s apparent leaders stood. `This is not good` Imunzo thought `this is not good at all` he continued, seconds before heading back the way he had came to find the rest of the group and tell them of what he had seen.

Presto awoke to the sound of raised voices. Hardly the best way to start what was allready going to be a gruelling day. He got out of bed as quick as he could and threw on his red robe, tying it tight around his body and going outside to see what was causing all the fuss. Presto opened the flap which was the entrance of his tent to see Sierra holding Valandt by the shoulders, something had defiantly gone on. “What‘s all this” a confused Presto asked, trying to get some clarification on the situation.
“It‘s Valandt, he‘s changed. The evil inside him, its coming out” said a cowering Astral, sitting behind Presto and some way away from Valandt.
“You gave Sierra life. For that I shall kill you” said Valandt, his voice a lot different to what it was usually and struggling to get out of Sierra’s grasp and to Astral.
“Enough of you” said Sierra, letting Valandt go for a split second before delivering a sever right hook and knocking him out.
“Was that really necessary?” Presto asked after Valandt had hit the floor.
“I don‘t know. I‘ve been wanting to do that for a while now, seemed like a good time. And it stops him from doing anything” she replied to which Presto nodded, understanding Sierra’s point but not wholly accepting it.
“That is not Valandt” Astral said, a tear running down her face. “He fought as hard as he could to hold his evil side back but it overcame him”
“Evil side?” a confused Sierra asked.
“Valandt was born from Paix and Goreoth. He is exactly half good and half evil.”
“Well there’s another reason to hate the gods” Sierra quipped.
“There is no time for this” Presto then said. “If Valandt is indeed this dangerous, we cannot allow him to roam free, not just yet anyway” Presto continued, as he conjured a rope around Valandt and tied him up with it. It was then that Presto noticed the fact that Sierra’s stomach was no longer bandaged and was about to enquire about it when he felt an arm on his shoulder, Imunzo’s. “Please” he said, partially breathless having ran the final third of the way back. “There is an army building by the volcano, we have no time to waste” he finished.
“Any army? how many troops?” Sierra asked.
“From what I could gather, over a million” Imunzo bluntly replied.
“A million! how are we five supposed to take care of that many? and just supposing we get through all those, there is the small matter of Goreoth, our god of evil” Sierra asked at the enormity of the task that lay ahead.
“I would fight until my dying breath” Imunzo replied, showing his desire and lowering his eyebrows at Sierra “I know I could get through a couple of hundred before they could get to me” he then unintentionally immodestly continued.
“You know how I hate to break up, however we have a slight problem” Sierra said, pointing to the hoard of skeletons that were charging at them from behind. Sierra looked at the oncoming troops and drew her sword, she then used it to cut the ropes tying Valandt down and began to slap him on the cheek until his eyes began to open. “What are you doing?” Presto asked Sierra. “hundreds on five is much better odds than hundreds on four” she quipped back, she then turned her attention to Valandt. “Now listen to me you” said Sierra, shaking Valandt about. “I know there‘ some sort of other person in there, and maybe you‘re the one I need to kill to take vengeance but im talking to you now” she said, trying talking to Valandt’s evil side. “I‘ll be watching you, so keep in line, or I may have to do...” she stopped suddenly and spun around full circle with her blade fully extended, tearing in two three skeletons that were approaching, she then came back around to face Valandt. “...That” Sierra concluded before she turned and went about taking on any skeleton that came within her reach. Valandt shook his head clear and got to his feet, then had to draw his sword and use it in the space of a second as a skeleton approached him from behind. Valandt ran toward a group of three skeletons and sliced the head off of one before either had a chance to react. The head flew up in the air and as it came back down Valandt batted it away with his sword, it crashing into the rib cage of the headless skeleton and making it collapse to the floor. Valandt then swung his sword heavily through the air, making it come crashing into the skull of another skeleton. Valandt then went to pull his sword clear of the skeleton but it was jammed in there, he then had to jump back while still holding his sword as the blade of another skeleton came at him. The skeleton went to take another swing at Valandt and this time Valandt dived through the legs of the skeleton which his sword was jammed inside and as he came out the other side the skull which his sword was stuck inside came loose. Valandt stood and looked at his sword for a second, which now had a skull attached to it and then ducked the sword of another skeleton and kicked it in the ribs, now making his foot stuck as well. Valandt looked around as two skeletons came at him from either side and raised their swords, he then looked into the eye sockets of the skeleton in which his foot was stuck and smiled. Valandt used his stuck foot to gain leverage and jumped into the air, kicking the skeleton in the head so hard that it came off and then falling to the ground causing the skeleton to shatter, his foot was now free. Valandt then had to roll backward as the two skeletons from either side of him had their blades come down right where he was. Valandt then got to his feet and slashed his sword through the air, which caused the skull that was attached to it to fly off and hit the skeleton to his left on the head, making it fall to the ground. Valandt then elbowed the skeleton to the right of him hard in the ribs, causing them to cave in Valandt then raised his arm and hit it in the skull hard, smashing it to pieces. Valandt stood caught his breath for a moment and watched as the skeleton which he had earlier floored got to its feet and then began to walk backward. Valandt looked around puzzled and noticed that the skeletons had formed a circle around he, Sierra, Imunzo, Presto and Astral. The five began to group together in anticipation of the skeleton armies next move. Valandt felt pain in his head forcing him to close his eyes and the voice inside began to laugh. `Yes!` began the voice `Waste all your energy, you will have none left to fight me` The voice laughed mockingly. `You’re going to enjoy this. Goreoth has special plans for you and your friends. I will wait until you’re at your weakest and then I shall strike. You will then be powerless to stop me.` The voice then disappeared and Valandt’s head cleared and he was able to open his eyes, he then let out a shocked gasp as he saw that now there was a Zaokum behind each of the skeletons and a demon above each of them. Valandt swallowed hard and looked around for options for a way out. A gap formed in the circle of troops that formed and someone stepped through it, a strange aroma then filled Valandt‘s nostrils and he began to feel faint. Valandt then, with the others fell to the floor having been knocked out by the smell but not before Valandt could get a look at the figure which had came through the gap. It was his father, Gyraicus.

Astral’s eyes opened slowly, instantly she felt relief at still being alive, she then began to look around at tried to focus on where she was. She got to her feet and soon realized that she would not be moving much, she had been sealed inside a glass container. Astral looked outside the container and saw that Valandt, Presto, Sierra and Imunzo had all been placed inside one and that behind them all was the volcano, they were at the sight where Legia castle once stood. There was more than enough room in the container for Astral, she began to think that she was not mean to be alone inside it and a chill ran down her spine at what may enter. “You pathetic humans” a voice boomed high above them, it was raspy and made Astral immediately cover her ears, it was the voice of Goreoth. “It has taken you long enough to get here, to find me. Now we shall see if you are worth enough to face me.” there was then an ominous pause. “Those containers which you find yourselves in are made from no ordinary material. It is unbreakable. The only way out is to defeat the opponents I have picked for you. You shall have the pleasure of watching each other die one by one.” Astral swallowed hard and waited what was to be said next. “First shall be Astral. She must face Bezcitnost, the demon of cruelty” and with that came the sight of a sickeningly green ogre like creature, with two huge yellowy curved fangs sticking right out of his mouth. The towering figure of Bezcitnost began to advance on Astral as she backed away from it until there was nowhere else to go. Valandt watched in horror, unable to save the girl he had vowed to protect, he then had an idea and closed his eyes. `I know you can hear this Astral` he thought, he made the voice inside his head as loud as he could so that Astral could definitely hear it. `Use the magic that Presto taught you. You can defeat that monster, if you could get it on the floor it would never get up again, its too heavy.` Astral then nodded to Valandt’s delight, she had heard his message. A line of crackling blue energy extended from Astral’s hand and she began to whip it against Bezcitnost. Bezcitnost let out a small groan as the energy whip hit him but he continued to advance on Astral, batting away her whip with his bulky arms. Bezcitnost continued to get closer to Astral until he was towering over her, he then extended his bulky left arm and picked Astral up with it and began to crush her in it. Astral struggled to breath and moaned loud as she felt his hand crushing her. She had one arm free and only one chance as she began to feel the agony inside Bezcitnost’s hand. Astral flung her hand at its head and an energy whip came from it and wrapped itself around Bezcitnost’s head. It then immediately dropped her and she created another whip with her other hand and whipped that around his neck too. Bezcitnost roared and Astral pulled tight on the whips, its arms reaching at the energy whip but to no avail. To then finish it off, Astral dove under its legs and pulled the whips with her, Bezcitnost’s head and body doubled over and it fell to the floor, then lay lifeless as Astral pulled the whips clear of its neck in opposite directions, severing Bezcitnost’s head. A split second later the glass box which Astral found herself in exploded and she was free. “Next shall be the wizard Presto. He shall face Nevidomek, the demon of blind fury” then came Goreoth’s ear-splitting voice, after which a strange creature appeared in Presto’s container. It was all black and thin, almost skeletal like and had six arms, each equipped with swords. Nevidomek began to advance on Presto, who began to launch balls of fire at it. The balls of fire were then ricocheted off of the twirling blades of Nevidomek who was now gaining ground on Presto. Presto then summoned a ball of energy and threw it at Nevidomek, who became trapped inside it. Presto was about to do something else when one of Nevidomek swords ripped through the energy bubble, Nevidomek came outside the bubble and began to spin around on the spot and hurling his six swords at Presto. Presto hardly had a second to prepare as the swords flew through the air but he managed to erect a shield of energy in front of himself before they could do any damage. Presto then looked to Nevidomek who was summoning more weapons and took the only chance he was going to get. Presto fired four balls of glowing light blue energy at Nevidomek and watched as they hit his free hands and took him back to the wall, the balls then became ice and froze Nevidomek’s arms to the back of the container. Presto then fired two balls of energy in quick succession at Nevidomek, one huge light blue ball and one a grey colour. The first smashed over Nevidomek and engulfed his body in ice, the second was a rock like ball and smashed Nevidomek’s body into pieces. The casing surrounding Presto then collapsed and Presto had won his freedom. “It appears I have underestimated your race, no matter it shall be more fun to destroy you” Goreoth’s thunderous voice was smug. “Next shall be the woman known as Sierra. She shall face Karygodnosc, demon of guilt” and with that smoke began to fill the side of the box opposite Sierra. She stood back and watched as a wall of smoke began to advance on her and from it came a voice. “You killed me” came a voice Sierra recognised as her father, she tried blocking it off, knowing it wasn't really him. It did not work however and the voice got to her head and she backed off. “How could you leave me like you did, had it not been for you I'd be here today instead of dead” the voice paused and Sierra curled herself up in the corner as a sword could be seen slowly extending from the smoke. The voice of Karygodnosc then went to say one more thing, hoping to kill Sierra’s mind “I never loved you Sierra” the voice came and was about to break Sierra’s remaining resolve when she heard the voice of her father from another direction. “Don‘t listen to it Sierra” came Golan’s voice, this time from above Sierra. She opened her eyes and looked to the sight of her father, standing over her. “F-father, it-it can‘t be” Sierra said, shaking her head in disbelief at the sight of her dead father, a sight her mind had conjured up to help battle the Golan which Karygodnosc had created.
“Sierra, do not listen to this manifestation of evil. You must continue to fight. For me. You did not kill me, you have nothing to feel guilty about” said the imaginary Golan to Sierra. Sierra then stood up and looked into the smoke as the imaginary Golan disappeared. The smoke was beginning to recede as she stood up, she then began to advance on it and it was retreating back the way it came. As it got closer and closer to the far glass wall Sierra stopped in her tracks. “I am not responsible for my father‘s death” she said, and with that all the smoke disappeared leaving a thin green, unarmed pathetic being, which Sierra threw her sword at and watched at it cowered and was then skewered by it, blood beginning to ooze from it. The glass chamber which enclosed her then exploded. “Next shall be the Djiani, Imunzo. You shall fight Ejistota, the demon of doubt” and with that an almost human looking creature, dressed not to dissimilarly to Imunzo appeared in the box which enclosed him. “I see inside you Imunzo, and this is what I see” Ejistota spoke to Imunzo and Imunzo’s mind was then transported to what Ejistota was seeing. The images of Imunzo’s only defeat at the Bishamon school flashed before his eyes, then that of his father being killed and finally that of Kaiazal sinking the island of Djian. “You failed the only time it has mattered, even Zvire you let die. You are no true Djiani and now I shall prove it by having you fail again” Ejistota said, seconds before it drew a sword. These words had stunned Imunzo a little and he shook his head to clear his mind, however the words and images continued to echo through Imunzo‘s mind. Ejistota then charged at Imunzo and the two began exchanging sword blows. Imunzo pace was lacking in that his mind was not all focused on the fight, Ejistota’s words had completely shaken him and he was not able to clear all his mind. Ejistota began to take advantage of the below par Imunzo, slicing through the air at twice the speed of Imunzo’s and then cutting Imunzo on his elbow. Imunzo jumped back and yelped in pain and dropped his sword, something he had grown not used too. It had been so long since Imunzo had felt pain that now he found the sensation ten times worse than it actually was. He held his cut arm and absorbed the pain as the blood flowed onto his arm, he then heard a voice at the back of his head. “Imunzo” came the omni powerful voice of Djogun. “You must calm yourself and release your emotions, keep your eyes closed. Let the spirit guide you” Imunzo then took a deep breath and kept his eyes closed as Ejistota hovered over Imunzo and raised his blade high into the air. Imunzo calmed himself and released all emotions from his mind as Ejistota sliced his blade down at Imunzo, who opened his eyes and grabbed the blade mid air, he then used all his strength to divert its path and point it back in Ejistota’s direction, he then shoved its body through it. Ejistota then fell to the floor lifeless and the box which surrounded Imunzo shattered to pieces. “Lastly, the Gloariax, Valandt. I know of your destiny boy, you shall die here and with it all hopes of humanity. You shall face the final demon, Azen, demon of fear” and with that a figure formed in the box with Valandt, the figure he had earlier seen, that of his father. “No” said Valandt backing away “get away from me” Valandt walked backward and tripped falling to the floor and closed his eyes, unable to so much as look at Gyraicus. Valandt continued to push himself backward, engulfed by fear at the sight of his father. `I cannot kill him` he thought to himself and he continued to back up until his back hit one of the containers sides. The illusion that was Gyraicus drew its blade and began to walk up to Valandt. As it then stood over Valandt and sliced his blade down at him. Valandt managed to roll out of the way, but not before being cut on the leg, he held his leg and then tried to crawl his way over to the other corner but it was too late, Azen was standing over him. `This is it then, its over` Valandt thought and with that he instantly stood up and drew his sword pushing the body of Gyraicus through his sword before he had a chance to react. The body of Gyraicus fell to the floor and then morphed to that of Azen, a strange looking creature with a red robe covering his pale body. `No!` came the voice of Valandt’s evil side ` you used me` it said as the glass box which he was entrapped in exploded. Valandt had realized he could never kill Gyraicus directly, so he let the evil in him take over and after it had realized that Valandt had tricked it, it gave Valandt the opportunity to retake control of his body. “Enough!” came the booming voice of Goreoth, angered to the point that the ground began to shake. “The time has come to show this world the face of its destroyer” Goreoth then thundered and the volcano behind them all began to erupt.