Book 4 | Agent 34 and the Last Gem

Chapter 18 | Skeleton Encounter

The skeleton spotted the dragon and stopped his flight. He hovered above the ground, Vrängr dangling in his arms.

"Give him back," Barjual commanded.

"Who are you?" The kidnapper asked, ignoring their request.

"Give him back," the dragon repeated.

"Answer my question," the skeleton replied.

"Answer my command," Barjual stated.

"Dragon, buddy, just let me pass peacefully and nothing will happen,"

"Dragon?" Vrängr asked, opening his eyes and looking around. He spotted Barjual, who was carrying part of the Destigems on his back. "Oh hey guys!" The elf spotted Agent 34 quickly. "Oh there's Agent 34! You were looking for him, weren't you skeleton dude?"

"Agent 34?" The skeleton asked. "I thought you were—gah!" His eyes shot up to look at the male elf on the black dragon's back.

"You aren't getting 34," Sercon exclaimed.

"And you are getting whoever this is," The kidnapped concluded. With a smile, he let go of his captive and Vrängr began to fall down towards Renya.

Barjual snapped and shot downwards after the elf as he screamed in terror. The flying skeleton rammed into the dragon and tried to push him away from catching the elf, but failed miserably when Barjual just flicked him aside.

The skeleton quickly looked for another way to stop them from catching Vrängr. He quickly shot after them and towards the passengers riding the black scales. He grabbed the first one he saw, ripping it off the dragon.

Whoever he had picked up thrashed in the skeleton's grip and threw a punch into his jaw, hurting theirselves more than their kidnapper. The skeleton looked down and studied his capture, a human with short and dark brown hair.

The human whipped out a sword and swung it at the skeleton as he raised him into the air. Isoma dropped the captive immediately in fear that he would slice off his skull, the only way to properly defeat and kill off a skeleton.

Surprisingly, Isoma's human dropped and fell back onto the dragon's back as well. The skeleton cursed under his breath and flew after them.

Vrängr landed with a plop on Barjual's back. It was amazing he hadn't landed on a spike or slid off.

"Where's Sercon?" Ismara asked, looking around.

Not a second later, Sercon fell into his spot behind Ismara with a thud.

"Where'd—" Agent 34 began.

"I don't wanna talk about it," Sercon stated quickly.

"Got everyone?" Barjual asked, looking back at his passengers.

"Yes, now go go go!" Agent 34 cried out. He looked behind and saw the skeleton trying to rush after them.

Barjual took off, back in the direction of the Zena. The skeleton followed them on their trail, not letting them get any more distance on him than they already had.

Suddenly, Barjual was thrusted to the side by a powerful and unknown force. He looked back to see the skeleton extending his arm towards him, a black orb coming off of it.

"Give me Agent 34," The skeleton demanded.

Quickly, Barjual shot a message to Paöminar without hesitation.

We need backup.

Paöminar replied immediately.

Coming.

"Did I stutter?" The skeleton said. "I can use Black Magic to kill you all. You either give me Agent 34 or I'll kill you and take him,"

"Can I say goodbye at least?" Agent 34 asked quickly, stalling.

"I–what? I–I guess?" The skeleton said.

Agent 34 quickly turned to his friends. "I'm gonna sacrifice myself," He said.

"No," Ismara said. "You aren't going with him,"

"You can't," Sercon told him. "We lose you, we lose the war,"

"But you guys will be okay," Agent 34 explained.

"Agent 34, you're sacrificing yourself for four people and giving up on saving a full continents worth of people in need right now. You're the best we have, you can't leave us now," Ismara began.

"Hurry up, don't have much time," The skeleton clapped his bony hands together.

Agent 34, Barjual shot a message to his mind. Jump into the water.

What?

Trust me. I'll hold him off. You'll escape and you'll be safe.

I mean–

Trust me.

Agent 34 hesitated before sending the next message. Okay.

The elf stood up, acting like he was ready to give himself up for the skeleton.

The skeleton laughed as he began to fly towards his new prey, ready to take him back to Braunick.

"By the way," Agent 34 asked. "What's your name? Just for reference,"

"Erm–" The skeleton wasn't expecting that, especially at that time. "I am Sir Isoma,"

"Alright Isoma," Agent 34 said, shooting him a devilish smirk. "Well, it was nice knowing you,"

Agent 34 turned on his heel and ran away from the skeleton. When he reached the edge of the scales, he shot a sad glance back at his friends and his feet pushed off of the dragon's back and he began to free fall through the air.