T. R. F. A. P. A. T. H. W. T. G.

Chapter 10: Doom

The darkness had left the sky. The clouds masquerading the earth had been cleared away. An angry, red sky revealed itself. Blood-like lightning struck the ground. The two emerged from a cave. A dark shadow loomed over the dead, barren field. The board was set.

Richard: "There he is, Cabs. This is the day we've been waiting for."

Cabs: "The day you've been waiting for."

Richard: "I suppose."

Cabs: "What if we're in over our heads? He doesn't seem like any other being we've fought."

Richard: "He's just a demon. No one will suffer as I have. No one will know the wrath of eldritch creatures."

The king and the rook stepped on the board, facing the dark bishop.

Richard: "Your time is up, demon. We're sending you back to hell."

Unknown: "A demon? You think I'm a demon?"

Richard: "Only a demon could commit such atrocities. Only such creatures could kill innocent men and women and children."

The shadow shrank and took a humanoid form. His skin was dark, his pupils red, and his aura was that of smog.

Unknown: "No. Only a man could."

The menace pushed Richard across the field effortlessly, launching him several meters away. Cabs drew his weapon, but was flung into the air.

Unknown: "You're all so tiny. It hasn't dawned on me how you could slaughter tens of them, yet you decorate yourselves with their eyes. I would be impressed if I did not love them."

Richard rose to the occasion as he prepared to charge with his lance drawn. The menace was suddenly in back of him, gripping his cloak and burying him into the ground. The dirt blanketed him. Cabs attempted to retaliate as he swung wildly at the menace. His greatsword shattered at the touch of his skin. The two were lifted into the air, gripped at their throats.

Cabs: "He has the force!"

The menace faced Richard.

Unknown: "You think you lost everything on that fateful night? You don't know loss, you insignificant speck. I have lived for countless eons and never have I imagined to be so wounded by men. You've slaughtered most of my family. A hundred gods, all dead and never to return. You did this. You did this!"

The menace faced Cabs.

Unknown: "You are the reason for all of our suffering. Your need for vengeance has fed ours, but I will deal with you later."

Cabs was thrown through a number of dead trees. The trunks buried him. The menace brought Richard, now alone, face-to-face.

Nogu: "Know this, murderer, I am Nogu. I am your reckoning, your judgment. I will be your end. I am not a demon, but a god and I possess more power than you could ever process. I could blink you out of existence. I could apport you to the edges of the universe and observe your slow, agonizing death from this very spot as you froze in the depths of space. No, you will suffer. There are worse fates than death."

The menace threw Richard to the ground. A white dome of light encompassed the barren field.

Richard awoke to a new day. The clouds returned. Nogu was gone. Something had changed.