Skylands Legends

18.4 An Execution

Jet Vac had tried to get his vac gun up in time to get a shot off, but the King of Chaos was too fast. One of his dark wings lashed out with lightning speed, striking him across the chest and sending him soaring through the air. His back erupted in pain as he crashed into one of the walls, a loud crack sounding out as he felt some of the bones in his body breaking. He dropped to the ground in a broken heap, no longer having any feeling in his legs.

Through the dazed pain, he heard a struggle as Splat did her best to fight the Chaos King. Arcane power filled the room and rainbows of color clashed against the oozing darkness in a chaotic war of sorcery.

Splat was driven back by the Chaos King's initial assault, his pitch black wings lashing out at her in wild patterns, forcing her on to defense. She had her dual tipped brush staff out in front of her, whirling it around with deft control over it, blocking every attack that came her way. Explosions of paint flew in every direction anytime her staff successfully blocked one of the wolfman's blows.

The paint began to slowly gather around her feet, forming an oozing blob of color that broke off into separate entities that spread throughout the room. When they were finally positioned, she ducked under the next strike from the Chaos King and slammed her staff into the ground. The paint globs burst around the room as a dozen paint monsters emerged from them. The summoned creatures stood tall with their broad chests and immense arms. Curved horns sprouted from their heads making them reach almost ten feet in height.

Splat glared up at the King of Chaos from where she knelt. "Kill," was all she said, and the creatures attacked.

The Chaos King was caught off guard by the first of the paint monsters, its great fist catching him in the back and throwing him across the room. He recovered from the attack midair, spreading out his great wings to catch himself and turning to face the onslaught of creatures. A look of annoyance crossed his face before a misty black blade appeared in his left hand and he got to work.

The next creature that reached him swung its fist at him once more. His dark wings struck outwards, catching the creature's arm dead in its tracks. The dark sword slashed and the arm was gone. Another slash took its head off.

The King of Chaos turned to the other creatures coming at him. His tongue darted across his lips in an almost excited way. His wings spread out behind him once more, their edges seemingly becoming more sharp as black mist oozed off of them. He charged the creatures and began cutting them down. Dodging, blocking, and slashing; his wings and sword making quick work of everything around him. With each one he took down, the darkness surrounding him seemed to grow darker as it swallowed more light. His attacks grew quicker, his dodges more deft. Outnumbered twelve to one it was hardly a fair fight for the group.

As all of this happened, Splat had rushed over to Jet Vac's side. She helped him sit up against the wall. He stared blankly at her in his dazed state. He felt her hand shaking his head around before finally feeling focused enough to say, "I can't feel my legs." A truly terrifying thought that was slowly beginning to set in on him. "I can't feel my legs," he repeated softly.

He felt her grab his hand reassuringly. "That's okay, I'll get you out of here." She lifted his arm up and got around her shoulder. He grabbed onto her arm, taking the hint, and used his other arm to push himself up against the wall. Together they slowly made their way towards the door as the paint monsters kept the Chaos King busy.

Jet Vac glanced down at his legs as they uselessly dragged across the ground below him. There was no pain he felt from them. No sense of feeling or tactile sensations. He imagined them moving like they normally would yet they wouldn't. They just dragged across the floor.

The thought of his legs being reduced to uselessness was too much for him to handle. He tried focusing on other things instead. They were now halfway to the door, maybe if he got to the infirmary in time something could be done for his legs.