Age of Darkness

Chapter 39: The Battle Of Zaria

I look out the window, viewing the growing chaos. I knew it. I knew the boy was in the city. I fould feel his presence. But this, this I did not expect. It looks like there were more survivors than I believed. A makeshift army of sorts. But a quickly made one. Not just adults, bu children. Untrained, desperate people. Ha! That's all they are. I wonder how long they'll last...

''James!'' I spin around, noticing my servant's entrance.

''Yes, Lord Zirkon?''

''I told you the boy was here. I knew it. And look, out the window, down below, see the force that he has built, see the force that meets him. He is more foolish than I thought, and with that naivety, he has become a pest. I should have killed him when I had the chance, but yet, he has led the remainder of the people right into my hands. My creatures have met with him, as have the soldiers.''

James peers out the window, a grim look upon his face.

''Would you like me to alert the rest of the men?'' He asks.

''Yes. And James?'' He steps out of the room, but spins around as I question.

''Yes, master?''

''Ready my horse, it's time for me to unleash my wrath, show the people that I will not tolerate treason. If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.''

His eyes grow wide, and his breath grows still.

''...As you wish.''

********************

It's like a storm of darkness has erupted, as we are pushed back towards the castle bridge. Children are screaming, scared for their lives, even the adults lose any rush of courage they once had.

''Hold your ground! Fight back!'' I yell into the night. The people obey. And we charge, crashing into the opposing battalion. Soldiers continue to flow out of the doors, like bees swarming out of their hive, and creatures of all kinds burst from the grounds below us. I slash at one man, and he tumbles to the ground. I spin around, down goes another. Somebody comes up from behind me, and I swing from behind me. Down goes a third.

Time for some magic. My hands glow with divine power. I slash at a group of skeletal monsters. A slash of blue magic flies through the air, slicing them, and they crumble to dust. At least they don't regenerate like when me and Elizabeth met.

I scan the area, quickly diving out of the way of an attacking skeletal monster. I see Elizabeth, surrounded by monsters. But she's holding her own. She's scary with those knives of her, and the air fills with dust. Our makeshift army seems to be doing good. Kids are kicking some guys, who are lying on the ground. Some people fight with swords, I see someone even bashing a guy over the head with a pan. Things are looking better. We're slowly pushing our way forward.

I shoot one of the towers of the castle, and it crumbles, coming crashing down to the ground, crushing all our enemies that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Not a good idea on my part, as suddenly, all the remaining monsters turn to me, probably realizing I'm a target. I'm surrounded, and everybody's already preoccupied. I face one of the creatures, and reach my sword back. I must have hit something behind me, because I swing a head at the skeletal in front of me, and both crumble to dust. I spin around, and shoot a blast of water at one of them. It too, crumbles. I get an idea.

I raise my hands in the air, focusing with all my strength.

''Fall back! Get behind me!''

Cracks appear on the ground. Beneath us rumbles like a volcano about to explode. But it's not lava, it the exact opposite, actually.