Echoes of the Past

Chapter Forty One - Part Two

Chapter Forty One: Heroes and Villains - Part Two

A small figure dove through the air below, but it wasn't an Oneron. Sam turned to see Jaxx's bodyguard, the Firion, Vogri, vault upwards with his staff, which extended multiple times to lift him into the air. The Firion retracted his staff when he came downwards, and extended it again as he swung it into an Oneron's head. Vogri landed and charged towards Evan with his staff raised.

Evan was up against three guards with swords, and did not seem to see Vogri approaching.

Sam dove off the walkway and headed down. Above him, a Spreader crossed the sky, and he shot his grapple hook up and attached to it. As he fell, he yanked the drone and swung it downwards in a wide arc. He came towards Vogri, who was pointing the glowing end of his staff at Evan, and brought the Spreader down. It slammed into Vogri and broke apart with a shower of sparks, flattening the Firion.

Sam landed beside Evan and took on one sword-guard as the Voarn dispatched with the other two.

Evan turned to Sam and then saw Vogri on the ground.

"Thank you," said Evan. "Although it will take more than that to take that one down."

"Leave him," Sam said. "We'll head inside and start looking for James. Ground level upwards."

Evan shook his head. Several more guards were coming out of the forge. From one of the building tops, Oneron soldiers fired shots down at them, striking their weapons and limbs. An explosion rang out from somewhere farther away.

"I will take him," Evan said, nodding to Vogri, who was rising and shoving parts of the Spreader away. "Unfinished business."

Sam nodded. "Don't let him distract you too long." He paused. "And, careful with that thing," he added, gesturing to the golden sceptre on Evan's back.

Evan nodded in return. Sam turned and headed for the forge. Evan was a capable fighter, and James needed to be Sam's priority right then.

The iron forge tower was just sixty feet away now.

Another explosion erupted, this one near the forge front doors, throwing out bodies of guards and Oneron soldiers. Sam had to ignore it all. He had to find James. While heavily out-numbered, there were hopefully enough soldiers to take care of the guards.

Two guards ran out of the forge entranceway and headed towards him. Both wore the black and silver armour of Sacre guards, complete with helmets. Sam kept his pace and brought out his grapple hook. He fired it into the visor of one guard and yanked him off his feet, retracting the hook to pull him further. When the second guard fired his heavy rifle, Sam leapt into the air and quickly threw his grapple hook up to free his arm, then threw down a Light Shot into the guard's chest. He reached up, snatching the grapple hook in the air, and fired it into an upper walkway and zipped upwards.

Managing a sword in one hand and switching from throwing magic and using a grapple hook with the other would be a difficult task for most people, but it was second nature to all Oneron. Using the sword, grapple hook, and magic, brought a fresh smile to Sam.

As he flew upwards, he couldn't help but admit how good it was to fight as an Oneron unleashed, without restricting himself. And to use his old sword again. Somehow, he felt like the sword was happy to be back in action too.

***

James stared at the faint smoke drifting off his hand. He had felt a burning sensation building up, but then hesitated at the last moment and the energy dispersed. He was still too apprehensive, he knew. But he had to summon this Fire magic. It was his only way out.