Terminus Part I: The Journey There (Draft)

Chapter 55: Fighting With Words

 The group descended into the volcano's main crater. There they walked across the formation, looking for an entry point into the cave that they sought. There was an irregularity in the crater: a small hill that came up out of the surface and had an entrance-like hole in its centre. This was their way into the depths of the volcano.

"What do you suppose we'll do when we get there?" asked Grudge, with a distinct rhythm in his words.

"We'll take down this Lyricus fair and square," replied James, in a similar rhythm.

"You don't suppose the curse is active now?" asked Cameron, a little concerned at the matching rhythms of the other's words.

"Perhaps it has changed to a rap verse somehow," said Crock, and even though he was joking, everyone realised he was right.

They descended into the volcano until reaching a large chamber. In the middle of this area, a wizard with a magenta robe and beard shaped like an L stood waiting.

"I am Lyricus, and I'm here to declare, your battle with me shall be the rap kind, yeah?" said Lyricus.

"You wanna rap with whom, you evil old man?" said Patricia. "Cause I can guarantee that our captain will kick your can."

James then started with his verse.

"I don't claim to be a genius when it comes to song, but if it's a battle of words and wit, then I can't go wrong. There's nothing 'bout your rhyme that impresses me at all, and when I'm done with you, you'll have no choice but to fall. Now offer up your counter, if you think you can bare it, because I don't play around, and if you lose you'll have to wear it."

"An amateur first verse, though I admit, it's kind of cute. You play around with fire, but you aren't that astute. I will offer you my mercy, if you're brave enough to take it, if you just give it up right now then I promise you will make it."

"I don't take kindly to threats, so here comes my second verse. Once I've finished spitting fire, you'll be lying dead in a hearse. Your technique is pretty tame, you stand no chance at all, and with every rhyme I bust I have you up against the wall."

"That was pretty good, but you don't get a second warning. When I lay down the truth, you won't get up the next morning. I'm here to make a scene, and to cause you all pain, so you'd better be sure not to underestimate me again. I will take you all down with the words I'm spitting, that's my reassurance that your end will be befitting."

The cave crumbled with every line that had been delivered. Things were heating up to a new degree, in more ways than one. Everyone began to sweat as lava appeared in the lower parts of the cave.

"Your words may be what you say they are, but they have no effect on me, don't you find it bizarre? Well, I'll tell you why you'll never get the drop on me, it's everything to do with my strength of mind, you see. Your meagre little rhymes ain't got nothing on mine, it's a wonder you haven't asked for a line."

The ceiling of the cave collapsed, and the pieces above James and his group fell to the side, as did those above Lyricus, as if both were generating a harmonic shield with their words. It seemed that in a few short verses, their shields would clash with each other, and only the one with the stronger verse would win the fight.

"You can pat yourself on the back all you like, doesn't change the fact that soon you'll take a hike. I got plenty more verses left within me, and you will not be able to win or break free. I could do this all day, but the time draws near, on the positive side, the dead have nothing to fear."

Lyricus' harmonic shield was overtaking James' but it seemed to have no effect on him. Confident that he could win, he continued with his next verse.