TWO - Divine Victory's Return

T W O

Divine Victory’s Return

Meanwhile Druenn wasn't the only one getting himself into trouble the five heroes, Krona Overa, Gravland Petture, Lengolassa Beechwood, Warren Anguish and Shreftwood Swiftrunner formed a circle around each other facing outward, Shreftwood locked eyes with Terribor Strife who stood by his throne within the mess hall of Reinhold.

Cloaked and masked men flooded the shadows of the hall, their eyes sweeping over the enemy. 

Krona had his sword and shield ready, Lengo, her two short swords, Warren clicked his fingers causing two flames to erupt from his hands, Shreftwood and Gravland had their bows raised and arrows nocked.

“Remember we can’t approach Terribor with these hanging around, we will need all our strength on him so preserve energy and quickly go for kills” Shreftwood said to the group, his voice stern and steady. 

The men escaping the shadows began to cry and charge some with swords and maces others wielding magic, their hands glowing different colours.

Gravland fired quickly watching the enemies fall to the ground whilst nocking his next arrow picking his next target, Krona blocked a blow from one COG (cults organisations and groups) to the left of him and slashed another to the right, before the enemy to the left of Krona could recover from hitting the shield, Lengo stuck her two blades through his shoulders The COG members fell from all directions until they heard a click from Terribor’s fingers; they drew back into the shadows of the corners of the room.

The group watched in confusion as the fight came to a halt, the men silently put all their attention on Terribor  “Now you’re warmed up It's my turn” he said, a grin on his face. He took two paces forward and thrust his hand out, his hand began to glow a deep pulsating purple with a black mist from the center.

Warren realised what was happening threw himself in front of the heroes 

“Get behind me now!” Warren warned the group.

“Warren don’t break ranks!” Shreftwood fired back, Warren eyed him quickly, “Now!” he gritted his teeth.

Terribor held in his left hand his staff, Meealduan, the heroes quickly saw what was about to happen. Terribor glared at them and the staff erupted in a purple aura of magic, Warren had been taught by the Dean of Reinhold how to repel Meealduans power but only for a short time. “The staff consumes everything, that’s what you told me master” he thought as he threw his arms forward and large blue lights began to glow like a shield from his arms. 

The beam of purple light hit the shield causing a shockwave through the room, the walls shook and began to crumble, dust fell from the rafters the COG members fell back, and the ceiling shattered, shards of glass and tiles began to fall. 

Krona held his shield over himself as they crashed on top of him, the sound was like the crashing of a waterfall.

“How do we stop this?” Shreftwood called to Warren who was now wincing from the pressure beaming down on him, he called back through clenched teeth ``We can’t, without the Harlequin staff we are useless…we must '' he grunted from the weight.

“We must pull back”

Shreftwood turned back to the way they came only to see it blocked by rubble from the ceiling.

“How do we get out now?” Krona called back.

“The escape passage is the only way,” Warren cried out as the pressure intensified.

“Do you know the way?” Shreftwood called back       

“Roughly.” Krona nodded whilst patting Warren on the shoulder

“We are leaving now!” 

Warren knew he needed to buy the heroes at least a matter of moments,

drawing all of his strength he threw his arms out and screamed, a powerful blue aura exploded outwards creating a cloud that spread out around the room causing the walls to buckle from the shock. Terribor was thrown backwards through his throne causing the wood to splinter. 

Gravland and Shreftwood fired an arrow at two COG's standing in their path, darting down a side corridor they made for the escape passage.

Warren flanked the rear ready to take another blast from Meealduan, he was already exhausted from that last blast, the Dean had only been able to teach him a defense technique giving him and whoever required it a few more minutes to escape.

Dashing down another corridor Warren thought about the escape route, at this point he was thankful his old master, the Dean of Reinhold had thought of everything when building the school, especially the possibility of needing this escape route due to an attack. This passage came out half way down the cliff's edge, on one side was solid rock with a thirty foot vertical climb to the top and on the other a twenty-five foot drop to the ocean. 

The escape route walkway would hug the cliff until it reached a steep pathway that led to the closest village for refuge “Which just so happened to be Pinevale - Home” Warren thought.  

The group tore down a third passageway that led into total darkness, Warren ignited his hand and held it high, lighting the tight tunnel that stretched out ahead of them.

The COG ran in their direction seeping into the gap like rats down a drain, Terribor followed behind casually. 

“Slow down you fools” he called to his subjects; they turned, surprised and perplexed.

“Sir? Divine Victory is escaping, and you slow your pace? Is there something you're not telling us?” Terribor smiled at his pathetic subject

“Friends, Divine Victory cannot escape, and besides just think, we have the greatest fighters in the land on the run”. They all made their way down the first corridor leaving the great mess hall in ruin, the walls collapsing, the ceiling now just open sky.