Chapter 5 – The Darkest Hour

Wendy, Chibi, Zep, and Mark were running at top speed towards Lith Harbor. They were hoping to get the support of that town before going to warn the other towns. They were getting near Lith Harbor when Chibi stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong Chibi?” Wendy asked.

Chibi sniffed the air and turned to them.

“I smell something burnt.” He said.

The other three started sniffing the air around them. Wendy closed her eyes and chanted a few words. The grass below them shook a bit. Wendy opened her eyes at once.

“Were not alone!” She yelled whipping out her staff.

As soon as she spoke the words, a giant monster burst into the clearing. On one of its shoulders hoisted a massive shoulder guard and on the right hand of the monster was a gigantic axe that gleamed crystal blue. The monsters eyes also gleamed the same color as the axe it wielded. The armor of the monster looked as if it too were alive. Without warning the monster swung its axe at Chibi. Having not recovered fully yet, Chibi was to slow to move out of the way. A loud noise issued as the axe clanged against pure energy and bounced harmlessly off the magic shield Wendy cast at the last moment. Zep and Mark jumped onto a tree and started launching away. Wendy chanted a few words and stuck her staff into the ground. Instantly the ground responded and raised a wall surrounding the monster. For a moment everything froze. Wendy looked deep into the monsters eyes. Suddenly the image of the demon that she saw in her vision flashed into her mind. Shocked she dropped her staff. The wall surrounding the monster crumbled. The monster roared and charged at Wendy. A few arrows exploding on its shoulder guard interrupted it. Its attention turned to where the arrows came from. Mark was sneering at it while Zep was pale as a ghost.

“You forgot about us for a moment there eh tubby?” Mark said.

The monster roared and charged straight into the tree. Surprised Mark fell flat on his face. Zep leaped onto another tree and launched his tobi stars like there’s no tomorrow. They bounced harmlessly off the monsters demonic armor. Angry at his futile attempts he prepared his secret weapon. He took out an oil jug and flung it at the monster. The jar broke on its head. The monster toke no notice. Then Zep took out his steelies and wrapped explosives around it. He made a spark against his claw and stars. They caught on fire. Quickly Zep flung the stars at the monsters head. The steelies caught fire while in flight. The oil on the monsters head came to life a second later. The monster screamed out in pain and lashed about looking for something to put out the fire. Wendy was still on the floor shocked. Mark was preparing to shoot.

“You’re going to pay for dirtying my baby!” He said before he shot explosive arrows at it.

Moments later the monster fell to the floor, headless. Sighing Mark and Zep collapsed onto their feet, exhausted by the battle.

“What in the world was that thing?” Zep asked.

“It’s the Gate Keepers…” Wendy said. “Followers of Thanatos…”

The others looked at Wendy surprised.

“You didn’t mention about them when you told us about the vision you had.” Chibi said. “Did you vision it just now?”

Wendy nodded. Zep’s already pale white face turned even paler then before.

“Ok now who’s Thanatos?” Mark demanded. “What are we talking about here?”

“You will know while we head for Lith Harbor.” Chibi replied. “Come lets go.”

Without another word the four gathered up anything they might need and once again set off towards Lith Harbor in hopes of winning the support of the small town.

Chapter 6 – Too Late…

The group had been traveling for over 2 hours already. Wendy and Mark were getting tired. Chibi was still traveling at half his normal speed, due to his injury.

“We are near Lith Harbor now.” Zep announced. “But something’s wrong…there is usually a lot of people on the docks coming from maple island…why is it so empty today?”

“Lets take a closer look at the ledge over there.” Wendy said.

The group moved slowly now that they have almost reached their destination. Wendy peered down from the ledge and let out a gasp. Alarmed the others followed Wendy’s gaze. Buildings were on fire and bodies laid scattered on the floor. A scream suddenly issued from behind one of the buildings. Without another word the group leaped down into the ruined town. A beginner was crouched against the corner, shivering with fright at the monster before him. The monster looked like a clown, yet with a hideous face. It was floating off the ground through some unknown magic’s. Zep instantly went to work on dispatching the monster. The monster shrieked as two tobi stars plunged into its head and fell flat on its face. As the group watched the monster disappeared slowly. Suddenly the group heard some noises behind them. They whirled around and was greeted by several of the monsters they had fought before.

“Holy Sheep…” Zep said backing away.

The others did the same. The monsters advanced forward as the group backed away. Their axes still gleamed the same crystal blue color and their armor still looked as if they were alive. For a second no one moved. Wendy remembered how these beasts were weak against fire. She instantly brandished her staff and chanted a spell. A blood red spell circle formed around her and she pointed her staff into the air.

“Spirits of the eternal pact!” Wendy shouted. “GRANT ME FIRE!”

The sky responded by raining enormous meteors burning at insane temperatures. The meteors crashed into the monsters. They caught on fire the next second and were running around screaming in their hideous voices. Soon enough the monsters disappeared.

“You came a little to late…” A voice came from behind the building they were just at.

Alarmed the group turned toward the noise. Olaf came out. He was bleeding from the head and arm. He staggered and fell on his knees. Zep and Mark rushed to support him.

“Lith Harbor was attacked early this morning…” Olaf said. “They just came out of no where. This masked demon just materialized and summoned a bunch of those hideous clowns and those gigantic things with axes.”

“Not to worry the attack is over.” Wendy said.

Olaf shook his head violently.

“NO! Its not over!” He shouted. “He headed for Henesys!”

Mark was shocked.

“Wendy! We got to do something!” Mark said. “My town is in danger!”

Wendy nodded.

“Then it’s off to Henesys.” She said.

“We will come with you.” A voice came from behind her.

She turned around and came face to face with a large group of beginners.

“This battle has nothing to do with you.” Wendy said. “Best if you hide.”

“Hide!?” The leader said. “After what those things did to my friends!? NEVER! My friends lost their lives to drive these things out of Lith Harbor! We will fight till the end!”

Wendy stared into the determined eyes of the leader. She sighed and nodded. The small army of beginners raised their weapons and shouted, “For Maple Island!”

“Lets go.” Wendy said to the others.

The group now with a small army prepared to intercept the masked demon, Thanatos, before it reached Henesys…No matter the cost.