Chapter LCII: Khimairas and Death

During the length of their battle, most of which Jinxie freely admitted she spent running away, she heard a number of sounds from the Khimaira. She had heard the crackle of electricity as it focused energy through its horns. She had heard the slicing of the air as it beat its heavy black wings. She had heard it growl, roar, and howl in ranges from deep and rumbling to loud and piercing. Only now did she hear the noise the Khimaira made when it was in pain.

"Burn," Rughadjeen said softly, holding his dual-bladed sword aloft, "Algol."

Jinxie covered her eyes as a flash of light and heat pulsed from the General's weapon. The Skyserpent's famous blade erupted into flame in his grasp, blue-tinged fire licking the tempered steel as he clutched it in both hands. Springing forward, the Elvaan slashed at the Khimaira, leaving an arch of flames behind him. The beast cried out as Rughadjeen's blade creased its chest, leaving a smoldering trail of burnt flesh in its wake. Angrily, it batted him away, but he caught the strike of its paws with Algol, feet planting in the mud as he resisted the impact. With a mighty heave, he threw the monster's claws back, assuming a defensive stance as he went head-to-head with a creature whose head was as big as his body.

The Khimaira's horns surged with a fresh pulse of electricity, and with a furious toss of its head a torrent of lightning streaked towards Rughadjeen. The Elvaan held up his burning sword, gritting his teeth in preparation for impact. Instead, he was thrown from his feet as an explosion rocked the air in front of him. He fell backwards, but was stopped by the massive hands of the Galka General, Zazarg. An oppressive atmosphere of raw power weighed down upon them as Flameserpent Gadalar crouched forward with his hand outstretched, a burst of his own formidable magic countering the Khimaira's electricity. From his back he withdrew a thin-shafted scythe with a blade of ivory, eyes burning as he glared at the beast.

"Abominations like you have no place in this world," he snarled. The wet ground hardened at his feet as waves of heat began pouring off of him. "Cremate!" The Hume shouted, twirling his scythe forward towards the monster, "White Joker!"

His weapon ignited as he called its name just as Rughadjeen's had, but rather than use it as a striking implement, Gadalar only pointed the scythe towards his target. The Khimaira surged forward, teeth bared, but the Flameserpent remained where he was. Jinxie covered her ears as a booming sound louder than any thunderclap burst from his scythe, and from it cascaded a river of flames. Dirt, mud, and gravel sprayed up as the beast stopped short, too late to stop itself from being bathed in fire. Its howls pierced the inferno, underscoring Gadalar's crazed laughter. The Khimaira vanished from sight entirely, his form blanketed by the General's endless flames.

"Are you alright?" Jinxie was startled to hear a voice addressing her, and looked up to find the Galeserpent, General Najelith, extending her hand. She took it readily, pulling herself out of the mire. She brushed off the front of her dirtied tabard, squinting at the blaze engulfing the Khimaira not far from where they were.

"I'll survive," she answered, "but is that going to be enough to stop that thing?"

Najelith smirked. "Gadalar's just having fun. We haven't even gotten warmed up yet." A moment passed as Jinxie's gaze went flat. "Get it?" The ebon-haired archer asked her. "Warmed up? Because of the fire?"

"Why are you here?" Najelith made a sour face at Jinxie's blunt changing of the subject.

"Razfahd's orders," she explained. "We're here to help!" The Galeserpent smiled brightly at her. Jinxie was surprised at how young the woman was. She had scarcely paid attention to the Serpent Generals during their meeting at the palace, but now seeing her up close several details caught her eye. Besides Rughadjeen, they all wore the same red-and-gold armor over loose-fitting white garb traditional of the Empire. The Skyserpent wore a heavier, less ornate breastplate more suiting a man on the front lines. He and Zazarg seemed to be the only two possessing age enough to reasonably be considered a General. From what she could tell, the other three were barely into their twenties, likely even younger than her.

It occured to her that perhaps the Empire's military structure was not founded on the same principles of her native Bastok. In the Republic, promotions came with time and experience, soliders earning their way up the ladder by dedicating their lives to the service. Bastokans in the army could stay in for decades and not reach the upper echelons of command. Now she was looking at a girl that she likely had a good five years on who was in charge of a sixth of the entire Imperial Army.

"General Najelith," she asked aloud, crouching down to pick her fallen three-cornered hat off the ground, "how did you earn your position?"

Najelith quirked an eyebrow, perhaps as puzzled by the content of the question as its timing. "The same way everyone in the military did, through proof of my power in combat."

"So the five of you . . . "

The Galeserpent nodded, holding her bow outstretched towards Jinxie meaningfully. "Out of everyone in the Empire, we, the Serpent Generals, are the most powerful soldiers you will find"

The air suddenly crackled with electricity, and she gasped as a burst of the Khimaira's power threw apart Gadalar's dome of fire. No sooner had it emerged than the ground split at its feet, and the beast toppled over in response to Zazarg sending a shockwave through the earth with nothing more than raw strength. The beast was singed and smoking, still-burning flames smothered as it was tossed into the mud. As soon as it was down, the Galeserpent, Mihli Aliapoh, was upon it in a flash. The club she wielded was nearly as big as she was, and with bone-crushing force she battered the monster down as it struggled to rise.

Jinxie watched, taken aback by the sheer power unleashed by the Serpent Generals. The Khimaira retaliated fiercely, a bolt of lightning from its horns sending Mihli sprawling, but the Mithra landed on her feet and immediately took the offensive again. Rughadjeen and Zazarg joined her as Gadalar continued to harrass it with flames. Najelith spun away from her, nocking an arrow in her bow, but lowered it after squinting at the monster.

"Not yet," she whispered to herself.

Jinxie looked around with a start. "Oh no," she said, and took off suddenly. Najelith called after her, but she was already sliding down the short cliff wall between her and where the Serpent Generals had beaten the Khimaira back to. She halted just short of a groundburst as the Khimaira and Zazarg shattered the landscape with an exchange of blows, diving around it instead. Not far in front of her, she saw Isset's limp form stretched over the moss-covered rocks dotting the area. Lightning danced around her as the Khimaira viciously counter-attacked the Serpent Generals, and she clutched her trireme hat against her head as she darted towards the fallen Puppetmaster.

"Isset," she called out to her, kneeling in front of the other woman. Isset gave no response. Her face was dreadfully pale and smeared with blood and dirt. Jinxie pulled her up, draping one arm around her shoulders and clutching it tightly. An explosion of lightning and flame burst up beside her, and she rushed through the heat and haze, dragging the Puppetmaster with her. The ground shook as the Khimaira and the generals battled it out, Jinxie forcing her way through the warzone to rescue her friend.

She twisted first to her left, then right, trying to find a clear way free from the melee. Isset moaned as she was pulled bodily away from the battle, and Jinxie struggled to keep her steady. The mercenary was nothing but dead weight, and the quick slide downhill to retrieve her was now far more formidable going back up. Gathering her resolve, she ducked her head down and broke for the steep incline at a dead run.

Isset pressed down on her, but she continued with all her strength, pushing her legs up the hill. Looking up for a brief moment, she saw Najelith leaning down over the ledge, extending her hand furtively. She also saw that hand was still much too far away to grab. Gritting her teeth, she pressed on, but the mud was dragging her down. Desperately, with her body being assailed by loose debris kicked up by the battle raging behind her, she lashed her hand out and made a leap for the Galeserpent's grasp. The archer stretched forward, and wrapped her hand tightly around Jinxie's wrist, heaving her up to the ledge.

She was almost up when a bolt of lightning struck the space between them, sending Jinxie and Isset plummeting back towards the ground below.

A scream didn't even have time to escape her lips before her descent was cut short. With a sudden and powerful jerk, she felt the breath explode from her lungs as she was yanked from the air, and a moment later tossed bodily atop the ledge she had been trying to reach. Isset's body rolled next to her a second later, and the Puppetmaster stirred at the rough disturbance, blinking uncertainly and trying to move. Jinxie struggled up to her elbows, taking a moment to make sure her hat was still secure, and then looked around for an explanation as to what had just happened. She gave a start when it presented itself before her.

"Vaala!" She exclaimed as the Ninja landed gently on the ground. "You're alright!"

Stretching her neck to one side, the black-garbed woman rolled one shoulder forward, then repeated the motion in the other direction. "My task was to escort and protect you," she stated, "and the Special Assignments Division is not familiar with failure."

"The others," she started moving to her feet, pushing herself up, but Vaala shook her head.

"I brought them here first. When I saw you with Najelith I determined you were in the safest place possible and went looking for the others. You descended the cliff while I was gone." There was a trace of irritability in her voice for a fraction of a second. "They are not unharmed, but they should survive."

"Thank you, Vaala," Jinxie clasped the other woman's hand, bowing her head sincerely. "Thank you."

"Uggh . . . " at the sound of the voice behind them, she quickly turned to find Isset starting to stir. "Wha - what's going . . . where am I?"

"Lie still, Isset," Jinxie crouched down next to her, taking her hand. "How do you feel?"

"Like I was just hit by a Khimaira," she muttered. "Where . . . where is everybody . . . ?"

"Vaala rescued them. We're all safe."

"But . . . the monster . . . "

"Good morning, mercenary!" Isset almost leaped out of her skin as General Najelith's face appeared over her, and Jinxie felt her stomach flip-flop in surprise. She hadn't even heard the other woman approaching and now she was right next to her. The Puppetmaster bolted upright into a sitting position, clutching at her chest with a gasp.

"General!" She breathed. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving you, naturally," the archer planted her bow in the ground, looking out towards the fight. "The others sure are taking their time, though."

"Others?" Isset turned her head questioningly towards Jinxie.

"Can you not feel it in the air?" Vaala asked seriously. "This mountain of force weighing down upon us? The thickness in the air, the heat in your blood, the sense of dread you must surely feel in its presence - this is the strength of the Serpent Generals assembled in one spot."

Jinxie nodded to Isset, and then moved out of her range of vision. The battleground below them revealed, the Puppetmaster could only stare.

"Ash! Ash and smoking ruin!" Gadalar was shouting. The Hume's long brown hair was matted down with sweat as he swung his ivory scythe. "Now, White Joker," he called to the weapon, "Salamander Flame!" With both hands, he crashed it into the ground. As soon as the blade touched the mud, a river of flames erupted from its tip, crashing with terrible force into the Khimaira. It howled madly, but then unleashed a noxious gas from its maw. The Flameserpent hastily fled as the ground solidified around him, the monster's breath petrifying all that it touched.

Just before the lethal gas could lay claim to the Hume, the Springserpent General pounced out from behind him. Mihli Aliapoh swung her enormous club with a fierce cry, producing a wave of cleansing water. The two forces struck with an explosive result, with the Khimaira's putrid gas scoured away. Following through, Mihli dove through her own torrent to viciously smack the end of her club down on the beast's snout. Blood gushed from its nose, and it responded with a roar and a toss of its head that threw her aside. No sooner had she skidded to a halt, landing on her feet once more, than Zazarg and Rughadjeen were on it. The latter charged in head on, Algol still ablaze, the former launched down from above, his fists crashing with meteoric impact into the Khimaira's back.

For every attack they launched, the Khimaira had a counter. When they crowded in around it, it would release the same storm of energy that had obliterated Sefadin's assault. If they ran out of range, it shot deadly toxins from its tail and its throat. It fought their weapons with its fangs, and their magic with its lightning. The Generals were taking a beating, Jinxie could easily see, but so was the Khimaira. Its wings were flared upwards in a defensive posture, and the ground was covered with claw marks from where it had dug itself in yet still been pushed back.

Watching them in combat was seeing a perpetual motion machine in action. Every time one of them was forced back, there was another to take their place. They never let up, never gave quarter, they only pressed harder with every fresh assault. The Khimaira was powerful, that was clear, but she knew just from watching them that the outcome of this battle was not in question. The Serpent Generals were going to win the day.

Coughing nearby tore her away from her thoughts, and she turned to see Sefadin, lying propped up against a tree some distance away, slowly coming to his senses. Krista was next to him, and she called for help as soon as he started stirring.

"What's goin' on . . ?" His eyes were bleary, and his arms were limp at his sides.

"We took a pretty bad hit," Isset replied to him, the woman still coming to her senses herself. "You're missing a great fight, Captain. The Serpent Generals are here."

"Oh man," he breathed, "I gotta see that." He strained, trying to rise, but collapsed quickly. "Ugh . . . you got anything that'll kickstart my heart?"

Isset lifted her hand up, and for the first time Jinxie saw clearly the manipulator she used to control Shoki. It snapped into place in her palm, and she began twisting her wrist while moving her fingers. She caught Jinxie staring and smiled.

"The band around my wrist has a length of wire inside of it, and that's attached to the manipulator," she explained. "That way I can drop it and fight with my fists without losing it. Once my palm is on it, I can control Shoki through specific finger movements on the surface or verbal commands, or just manipulating my chi a certain way. He'll even react to changes in my pulse that the manipulator picks up." She frowned, pulling at nothing with the hand holding the device. An apologetic look came upon her as she turned back to Sefadin. "The Serpent Generals' spiritual energy is giving us too much interference, I can't reconnect with Shoki while they're fighting like this."

"They're so strong," Jinxie could feel the intense power being released from their battle growing even greater. "Why don't they finish it off already?"

"Because," Sefadin coughed, "they need to destroy it completely."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah," this time it was Krista who spoke up, "I can answer that." Rummaging through her pack, she produced her harp and began plucking rhythmically at the strings. To Jinxie's surprise, a cloud of images began appearing in the air, moving in time to the Bard's tune and voice.

"Khimairas are not what you might imagine," she said, and a rough purple shape formed in the cloud above Krista's head. "They're not born or summoned, they're not an ancient monster of any kind. Khimairas are engineered through science and magic - soulless creations assembled from the remains of other monsters!" The images of several other creatures appeared in the cloud, with arrows pointing from them to the purple mass in the center. Jinxie realized that the comical display was the same as what she had experienced when Pixel had told them Kkel's story, only obviously to a greatly lessened degree.

"Making Khimairas is strictly forbidden by the Empire," a large "No" sign appeared above the Khimaira in her image, and Jinxie had to force herself not to roll her eyes. "But the Beastmen still produce them regularly. However, it was discovered . . . " the tempo of her song increased, and the image solidified into the form of the blank-eyed beast the Generals were fighting below them, " . . . that new Khimairas were being created using remains from previous ones which had been slain!" She lowered her voice, and the illusion lapsed into a series of rough shapes and colors. "Therefore, in order to prevent old Khimairas from being used to build new, stronger ones . . . " Five red shapes appeared around the Khimaira in her song, closing in on it rapidly, with a white flash as the result. " . . . you must obliterate that Khimaira entirely!"

"The Serpent Generals are waiting for the perfect moment," Sefadin spoke as Krista's song was carried away by the wind, "so that they might capture the Khimaira at a point of its greatest energy release and turn that energy back upon it. That is the only way to ensure it is completely destroyed."

"A monster made from other monsters . . . " Jinxie looked back over her shoulder, eyes widening at the sight of the beast. "Then it doesn't just have powers like a Behemoth . . . "

"No," this time it was Vaala whom confirmed her suspicion. "It is very likely the Khimaira you see before us was constructed using Behemoths native to your continent."

"That's . . . terrifying." She shuddered openly.

"Wait," Sefadin managed to edge himself up on his elbows, looking out over the ledge, "do you feel it?"

"Yes," Vaala confirmed, "the time is growing near."

General Rughadjeen was ruthlessly battering the Khimaira with his sword, forcing it up against the wall of the cliff around them. It attempted to break to the right, but was met by General Zazarg's fearsome strength and turned back. To its left, Mihli and Gadalar closed in on it, countering its magic and assailing it with their own. It roared in fury as it was boxed in, and Jinxie could see a white glow beginning to pulsate from beneath its stolen skin. The wings on its back were stretched wide open, and the hungry look in its soulless eyes had been replaced by sheer rage. It no longer wanted to simply eat its attackers, it wanted to hurt them, to punish them.

The monster was thick with wounds now, scars from the burning sword the Skyserpent brought against it. Beneath the cut flesh, a ruddy white glow was slowly pulsing outwards. The horns on its head were no longer crackling with lightning, but instead burning with that same white light. All over, the Khimaira was beginning to glow, and its chi was growing massively. Jinxie felt the air become stifling as its spiritual energy rose to greater heights than ever, overpowering even that of the Serpent Generals. Its howl was like an arrow, piercing through the oppressive river of colliding forces. The ground swelled up and burst around the Khimaira's feet, and the four Generals were forced back in unison, shielding themselves from the sudden surge.

At exactly that moment, a new source of chi suddenly burst to life, and with a gasp Jinxie turned to see Najelith, the Galeserpent, drawing back her bow.

"Almost," she whispered, squinting one eye as she leveled an arrow. To Jinxie's astonishment, the point of the projectile flickered briefly, and then burst into radiant light. Barely a moment later, the Khimaira let loose a deafening roar, its body erupting with power. A sphere of blinding energy formed around it, holding in place for a fraction of a second.

"Now, Selene!" The Galeserpent shouted, letting her arrow fly. "Typhonic Arrow!"

Jinxie should have felt, as everyone else did, the catastrophic collision of power as Najelith's arrow collided with the Khimaira's fulmination. The archer had spent the entire battle letting her bow, Selene, gather energy for one tumultous release. At the moment of the monster's greatest attack, all that power was brought to bear, resulting in an energy wave deadly enough to completely eradicate the beast. For everyone else, being in the presence of such incredible power was enough to make their bones rattle and the breath leave their lungs.

However, Jinxie could not feel any of it. She was lost in the dark and infinitely vast ocean of terror which had just swept over her.

From just beyond the entrance to the Khimaira's clearing, the Dark Rider had appeared.

Even as Najelith prepared to release her arrow, his crushing aura struck her like a great, pulverizing weight. She stood in rapt fear, gaping at the horseman as he reared his steed just beyond where they all had gathered. His burning eyes returned her gaze from beneath his helmet, and in the next instant he lowered his lance and charged. Trapped in the cage of his power, she could feel nothing but terror. He was here to kill her. She knew it without a doubt, and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Her legs moving seemingly of their own accord, Jinxie screamed, running as fast as she could. Escape, she told herself, she had to escape. This was no foe she could fight, no battle she could win. This was death, and it was coming for her.

The voices of the others were lost as the ground gave out beneath her. She tumbled head over heels, landing on her back to see the Dark Rider leaping over the cliff, the hooves of its eight-legged horse bearing down to crush her.

She covered her face desperately, still crying out, and then a wave of darkness swept across her.

In the next moment, the entire area erupted as Najelith's arrow pierced the Khimaira's dome of energy, and the battlefield was scoured clear by light.


Kkel Solaar's eyes came alight as a portal within the Chamber of Passage flared to life. He had waited through the night, dozing in a chair propped up against the wall from time to time. All the members of his elite squad had long since been sent home to recover from their day of lightning-fast assaults. Razfahd had returned to the palace, confident that allowing the Serpent Generals to follow Jinxie would bring quick and decisive victory. The guards had all locked up for the night and retired. Only Pixel remained with him, and she too turned in anticipation as a soft blue glow filled the portal.

It was Sefadin, the mercenary Captain, and with him the Bard that he dragged along. He stood up to greet them, but stopped when they came fully into view. The Paladin's head was hung, and his companion was looking away. In the brief moment he saw her eyes, he caught their redness, along with her tear-stained cheeks. Before he could raise his voice to them as they stepped away from the portal, it came to life once more. This time it was the other two mercenaries, Speed and Isset. Both appeared in a similar state to the Captain.

"What happened?" They looked up, surprised by his presence in the darkened Chamber. All four of them looked away from him, and each other. No one seemed to want to speak. Rising from his chair, he felt his emotions beginning to churn. "Why did you come back?" He demanded. "Answer me!"

"General . . . " Isset whispered, biting her lip.

The portal flared to life once more, and the dark form of the assassin, Vaala, appeared within it. She kept her masked head high, walking past the others without a word. Stopping in front of him, she drew a deep breath under the intense gaze of his blue eyes.

"General Solaar," she said perfunctorily. "I must report mission failure."

Kkel could feel his cheeks growing hot as Pixel placed a hand over her mouth, shaking her head. "What are you saying, Agent?" He could no longer keep his anger in check. "Somebody tell me what happened! Where is Jinxie? Well?" Vaala continued to meet his gaze, but said nothing in response.

A flash of blue told of the portal being used again, and this time they all turned. The platform it rested on filled up with the forms of the five Serpent Generals. Kkel brushed past Vaala, walking towards them, but Rughadjeen quickly came forward and headed him off.

"Kkel," he said, "my friend," the Elvaan's voice was low, "I am sorry."

"What are you - " he stopped, realizing the Skyserpent was pressing something into his hands. He looked down, and his heart nearly stopped in disbelief.

"We lost her, Kkel," Rughadjeen whispered, handing him Jinxie's tattered hat. "We lost her."

Kkel could only stare at the object in his hands in the stillness of the Chamber. For a long while, no one said a word, and the only sound was that of soft, silent tears.

Chapter LCI: Giant Monster Number Three

Braced against the wall for support, Kkel forced himself to his feet, steadying his legs beneath him. He was starting to feel his strength coming back, a sensation of relief spurred on by the sight of Pixel reappearing in the Chamber of Passage. All the soldiers of his piecemeal squadron had made it out of their last lightning-fast assault in one piece. Making it back out again was another story.

Half of them could no longer stand under their own power. Two were receiving emergency treatment just to keep their hearts beating. Injuries sustained in battle with the undead were superficial at worst, as they were always too quick to be lured into any drawn-out confrontations. The whole of their problems stemmed from the Runic Portal. They were burning out, and quickly. As he caught Pixel's eyes, he knew that there would be no more return trips. Their squad was decimated by weakness.

"So . . . it's so . . . "she started to say softly.

Kkel gently motioned her to silence. The silver-haired Tarutaru closed her eyes, sliding down against the wall and breathing heavily as she clutched Gjallarhorn. With some great effort, he managed to turn away from her as the door to the Chamber of Passage opened. Footsteps carried down to where he stood, and it was only a few moments before the figure of Razfahd appeared at the opposite end of the hall. With a dispassionate eye, the Grand Vizier surveyed the exhausted soldiers of the Sunserpent's assault team. Slowly his gaze turned to Kkel himself, and there was a pained understanding within them he had not expected to see.

"This mission is over, Solaar."

"No, wait," Kkel stumbled forward, shaking his head when his vision blurred. "I can still go on by myself. Give me just a little longer and - "

"General, do not make me repeat myself." The familiar coldness of Razfahd's voice crept back in. He sighed deeply, clasping his hands behind his back. His stern, hawk-like features softened slightly. "Kkel," his tone was placating, "you will kill yourself. You have done all you can do."

"There's no way the Lamia will keep their forces on alert if the attacks don't keep coming," he protested. "Jinxie must be practically to Arrapago by now, we'd be practically laying a trap for her! Even if she does succeed she'll only find the undead swarm waiting for her and her son when she tries to return."

Razfahd looked at him, maintaining his haughty veneer. "When I first saw you return from your last mission, I gave orders that reinforcements be sent to accompany Jinxie."

"Reinforcements?"

The Grand Vizier nodded. "Their orders are to assist her in completing her task . . . or bring her back here if the situation seems unable to be salvaged."

Kkel put a hand against the wall, watching the Runic portals pulse steadily. Clenching his fingers, he smashed a fist against the brick and mortar, letting his head hang. "I can't let her down, Razfahd," he said without looking at him. "She saved more than my life. She saved my soul. I have to repay her."

"Then do it some other time, Sunserpent," the Grand Vizier ordered, "whatever happens from here on out is entirely up to her."

The General closed his eyes, letting a breath escape slowly. Under his breath, he uttered a silent prayer to Walahra. He asked for nothing more than for Jinxie to be kept safe.


"I hate this Empire!" Jinxie screamed as she darted backwards. The Khimaira crashed down into the ground snout-first, tearing the dirt apart in its failed attempt to bite down on the blonde woman. Jerking its head free, it snorted, looking around for the fleeing meal. When its soulless white eyes fell upon her, it lunged again with a hungry snarl. Jinxie narrowly avoided its crushing jaw, breaking into a run as its fangs missed her. Diving forward, she snatched her sword from the ground and rolled up, holding the slim blade forward defensively.

The Khimaira looked at the blade, then snorted derisively, stomping its way towards her. Jinxie felt the hilt tremble in her grasp as the monster closed in on her, but she held her ground. It was still blocking the only exit, and if she had to take it apart one slice at a time to get free, she would. She wished fervently for the power to fight it with magic as she had the Hydra, but that was no longer an option. Her eyes widened when she saw a surge of electricity begin forming from its thick horns, and the bat-like wings on its back flared open. The beast was hungry, and did not feel like playing with its food.

The sparks flying from the tips of its horns abruptly died as the Khimaira roared, rearing upwards and bucking violently. Jinxie lowered her sword, confused, as the monster twisted and writhed, but then she flew backwards as it crashed its front paws down on the ground. The force tore her from her feet, sending her hurtling towards the cliff wall surrounding the area. She tensed her body, bracing her arms in front of her head as she prepared for impact. Before it could happen, there was a flash of darkness, and the next thing she knew she was settled on the ground.

Blinking, she looked up and saw a lithe figure wrapped in black standing above her, two katana outstretched. Gray eyes did not move from the Khimaira as the woman moved up and down on the balls of her feet, preparing for an attack.

"Vaala!" Jinxie exclaimed, scrambling to her feet.

"It would be best if you flee, provisional Major Jinxie," the Mithra told her as the Khimaira's eyes found them. "I will not be able to hold this monster back for long."

"Let me help," she lifted her sword up, leveling it at the beast. "I can't just leave you here."

Vaala did not move from where she was. "You have not used magic since we began this journey," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "not even now, when your life was at risk." The Khimaira roared, and then began closing in on the two of them. "Am I correct in saying that there is something preventing you from doing so?"

"I - "

"Your assistance would be unwarranted. Run away while you can." Before she could argue, the monster was on them again, swiping at them with its enormous front paws. Jinxie dove to the side, avoiding a strike, but Vaala ran forward instead, planting her feet on its gargantuan limb and running up the sinewy length towards its head. Her hand flashed, and a row of shurikens suddenly blossomed on the Khimaira's muzzle. It shook, almost as if a sneeze, and they all fell to the ground. Vaala pulled away from the monster with a backflip to the ground, watching her weapons fall harmlessly, not even going in deep enough to do more than make the creature itch.

Jinxie watched as the Ninja darted back and forth, astonished. There was no wasted motion in anything the assassin did, not a single exertion more than necessary. When the Khimaira came at her with its mouth open, her hands made a rapid series of gestures and then a cloud of purple smoke erupted in front of her. The beast reared back, coughing violently as another spray of silver shuriken broke from the haze. They embedded themselves in its chest, but fell out as soon as the Khimaira's feet impacted with the ground. It spun about, searching for Vaala, but she was running swiftly behind it, just beyond its range of vision.

Her ears caught the sound of something grinding together as Vaala lanced one hand forward. A moment later, flames sprung up on the Khimaira's back, the scent of burning fur mixing with the odor of swamp water and fumes. This time the beast did roar, feeling the intense heat of Vaala's eastern chemicals eating at its skin. With an earth-shaking clamor, it toppled itself over and rolled into the thick mud around it, squelching the flames. The Ninja watched with some surprise as the still-smoking monster righted itself, shaking flecks of dirt from its thick mane.

"A smart one," she said in an even tone. "Not ideal."

As soon as it was upright again, the monster leaped towards her, black-and-red wings stretching upwards as it tracked down the Mithra. Vaala ran towards it as well, and Jinxie shouted at her in confusion as she went headlong into the towering creature. Just before the moment of impact, however, Vaala's lithe form slid down into the muck, momentum carrying her forward, beneath the Khimaira's belly. In a burst of leaves and black powder, she emerged behind it, brandishing both her katanas and a fresh batch of her flammable tools. Like Jinxie, she gave no thought to the monster's fur-topped tail.

Only when a burst of a foul green spray shot out from it, enveloping Vaala in a sickly-colored cloud, did Jinxie see the stinger concealed beneath the hair.

In a puff of acrid green smoke, the Ninja burst out from inside the cloud, but almost immediately fell to the ground. She planted her arms beneath her, struggling to rise as the Khimaira turned. Its eyes fell on Vaala's struggling form as she coughed, trembling with pain as poison began spreading through her body. Jinxie ran to her side immediately, trying to pull her up as she started going limp.

"Jinxie," Vaala breathed, her voice hoarse, "run," a fit of coughing swept over her, and her body convulsed.

"Hang on!" She shouted at the Ninja. "We'll - "

The rest of her sentence was lost as the Khimaira rammed into the both of them, sending them sprawling in different directions. Jinxie came down hard on the ground, crying out as pain shot through her leg. She rolled a distance after the impact, and when she finally stopped the world kept on spinning, leaving her completely disoriented. Trying to shake her vision clear, blurry shapes in the distance suddenly came into focus. With a gasp, she saw Vaala lying motionless beneath the Khimaira's fangs.

"No!" she started to shout, fumbling for her sword, but the Khimaira paid her no heed.

"Hey you purple abomination," a higher, louder voice with a distinct Imperial accent shouted through the trees, "get away from them!"

A cloud of needles shot out from the trees, peppering the Khimaira's thick hide. To Jinxie's surprise, the slender form of the puppet Shoki rocketed out from the bush, its tiny hands firing a barrage of the deadly projectiles. Turning, it roared angrily at the intrusion to its meal, swiping a crushing paw at the marionette, but Shoki vaulted upwards in mid-air, as if pulled by a set of invisible strings. A moment later there was a surge of motion on either side of the monster, and a jarring impact that shook the clearing. The Khimaira's eyes rolled back in its head as on one its left side, Isset's foot was buried in its face, and on the right, Speed's great axe was thrust up against its jaw. They seemed to hang there for a moment in time before breaking free of the beast, both landing safely as it reeled.

"Jinxie!" Isset shouted. "Are you alright?"

"Vaala," she urged in response, desperately indicating the fallen Ninja, "you have to help Vaala!"

"I'm on it," the Puppetmaster declared. "Keep this thing busy, Speed!"

"What? Aw, maaaaaan . . . " the mercenary loosely hefted up his great axe as the Khimaira snorted, easily brushing off the earlier attack. It's attention fell on the dark-haired Warrior as he sighed. "This place is such a downer, man."

As Speed prepared to fend off the hulking creature, Isset and Shoki appeared by Vaala's side. "It's some kind of toxin, the Khimaira shoots it from its tail," Jinxie explained. "Do you have more of your antidote?"

"Of course," with a flick of her wrist, a compartment on Shoki's torso sprang open, revealing a row of vials within. "Is the poison resistant to magic?"

"What? I don't know, I - " she stopped as she realized what Isset was asking her. "I can't help her, Isset. I'll explain later," she spoke over the raven-haired woman's question, "we need to help Vaala now!"

A breeze suddenly blew past, and they both blinked as something large flew in between them.

Isset gave a gasp as a loud thud shook the leaves from the ground, and they both turned to see Speed collapsed against the cliff wall, sprawled head over heels. Turning back around, the Khimaira loomed over them, Speed's amood between its teeth. Growling irritably, it spit the weapon out, looking down at the two women beneath it.

"Run," Jinxie said without looking at Isset.

They broke in opposite directions, the Puppetmaster scooping Vaala up and darting away in one smooth motion. The Khimaira roared, bounding after Jinxie with growing speed. She pumped her legs as fast as she could, but in one mighty leap the creature flew over her head, spinning in the air to land directly in front of her. Thinking quickly, she dropped to her side and pushed down hard, sinking her arm into the mud and jerking her body to a stop just in front of the beast's gnashing teeth. Pushing forward with her free leg, she propelled herself in the opposite direction.

She had only made it a few steps when Isset sped past her, and she turned to see the Puppetmaster smashing her fist square into the monster's nose. Ignoring the strike, the Khimaira opened its jaws to swallow her up, but she ducked beneath its muzzle and delivered a stunning uppercut to the creature. It stared at her in annoyance.

"This isn't good," she admitted, then cartwheeled quickly aside as the beast swatted at her with its paw.

This time, however, the Khimair did not chase after her. Rumbling with anger, its horns began to spark once more. Jinxie felt her hair rising up as lightning started surging from within it. The air became thick as she turned, trying to get away from the storm which was suddenly and inevitably brewing. She heard Isset shouting towards her, but her words were overpowered by the sudden and shocking release of pent-up energy from within the monster's body.

A wave of thunder cascaded from its horns, striking down the area with force which caused the ground to erupt. Jinxie cried out as she was creased by a column of electric force, her red tabard burned dark black by the contact. Gritting her teeth as she fell, she struggled to make her body stop shaking and get back up. The current which had run through her was making her muscles contract, and her legs weren't listening to her commands that they move her back to her feet. She twisted her head up and found the Khimaira looming over her, and her eyes went wide when it scooped her leg up in its open mouth, fangs glistening above.

With a jarring impact, something struck it dead in the center of its face. It dropped Jinxie down as its wings went limp on its back, as for the first time it appeared genuinely stunned. The next thing she knew, she was being scooped up off the ground and watching Isset fly by again, this time with Shoki in tow. The duo rapidly attacked the monster as Jinxie looked up and found Sefadin's smiling face looking towards it. He set her down, raising up his shield.

"What a beauty!" The mercenary grinned widely. "I haven't seen a Khimaira this big since that one they fished out of Hazhalm. Of course, that one had three heads."

"Of course it did," Jinxie said flatly.

The Khimaira spun around rapidly, flaring its wings with a howl. Isset leaped backwards to avoid its slashing paws, skidding to a stop on the ground as the monster turned towards Sefadin. It eyed him for a moment, tilting its head, then let out a ferocious roar. The trees shook as the ground rumbled beneath their feet, and the mercenary stood as the focal point for the violent display. His face was stoic even as his hair blew back and the mud at his feet broke apart and went flying. When its howl died down into a low grumble, the man and the monster stood face to face, Sefadin staring up at the beast towering over him.

"Oh, you're coming on to me now?" Sefadin's voice was a low, excited growl. "Well I should warn you babe, I'm a cold heartbreaker, fit to burn," with the ringing of steel, he tore his blade from its scabbard, "and I'll rip your heart in two." There was burst of chi at his feet, sending the dry leaves around him circling upwards. As he looked up at the Khimaira, a smile broke his lips. Jinxie covered her eyes as a blinding flash burst from his sword, and the beast howled as well. When she looked back, blinking spots from her vision, she was amazed to see that the weapon had taken on a golden sheen.

"Sing," the Paladin said, bringing his sword to bear, "Hauteclaire!"

Sefadin's sword burst into brilliant light, shining radiantly as he held it out towards the monster. It recoiled from the light, roaring in confusion as Sefadin brandished the golden blade. "Krista!" He shouted out. "Fight music!"

"Aye, Captain!" Jinxie spun around to see the Bard running up to join them, panting and waving, fumbling through her belongings until she produced a harp. Rapidly, her fingers strummed the strings as her voice rose, and soon a stirring march was spreading through the clearing. Krista's spellsong wrapped around Jinxie, and she felt her limbs becoming lighter, her thoughts clearer. The urge to find her sword and take it up again began drumming at the back of her brain. She had to fight down the feelings, but was surprised by the strength of Krista's song.

Sefadin, on the other hand, was reveling in it. His sword, Hauteclaire, made a distinct ringing noise everytime he swung it. What was more, depending on the way he held it, the ring would alter in pitch and duration, making it truly sound like the blade was singing. The Khimaira reared back from his repeated strikes, and she could see streams of bright red blood trickling down from where Hauteclaire's bites were succeeding in making shallow cuts. Smirking, the Paladin held the beast at bay with his strikes, moving in time to Krista's frantic tune.

"I like it," he declared over the sound of battle, "it's got a good beat, and I can dance to it."

"What is that sword?" Jinxie asked, shielding her eyes against its brilliant sheen.

"Captain Sefadin's famous golden sword, Hauteclaire," she turned to see Isset approaching her, pausing to catch her breath. "It amplifies his defense and fighting power so long as he wields it, and sings upon his command. I gave Vaala an antidote," she continued, "but this poison is strong, it's going to take her some time to get through it." She twisted the hand holding Shoki's manipulator around, and the puppet appeared at her side, holding up a familiar silver length. Jinxie blinked, drawing her rapier out of its grasp.

"You're not joining in, Jinxie," Isset said plainly. "What's happened?"

"Isset, I . . . " she looked at her friend, her eyes pleading. "I have to find my son. There's no way they'd let me come along if they knew."

Isset's gaze was imperceptible, and there was a long moment gone before she spoke again.

"Speed!" She shouted, turning her head towards the Warrior.

"Lemme alone Issy," he mumbled, still in the position he had been when the Khimaira swatted him away. "I'm unconscious."

Marching over to him, she kicked him in the side, causing him to topple over into a sitting up position.

"Get your axe and get back in there, this thing isn't dead yet."

"Man," he muttered, pushing himself up off the ground, "such a buzzkill."

As Speed retrieved his weapon, Sefadin went screeching past Jinxie, his shield held up as he was propelled backwards through the mud. Halting himself with a burst of chi, he immediately ran forward again, colliding with the monster and holding off one of its paws with his shield and fending off a second set of claws with Hauteclaire. Releasing the parry with a backstep, he avoided the Khimaira's fangs and then stretched out his sword, which emitted a fierce shine towards his foe.

"Hauteclaire," he ordered, "Sentinel!"

The sword flashed, and the air around the Paladin grew thick. Just as it did, however, the Khimaira reared back with one paw, roaring as it took a fearsome swipe. Jinxie gasped as it struck Sefadin full on. Krista's song stopped as the Bard shrieked, and Isset and Speed froze in their rush to assist the Captain.

As for Sefadin himself, he turned his head back towards the monster, grin still splitting his face. "What," he asked, the air gleaming around him, "is that all you got?"

A fresh wave of chi burst from him as he slashed with fresh vigor at the beast. Krista immediately fumbled with the strings of her harp, but managed to grasp it and strike up her tune again. Isset nodded to Speed, and the Warrior gave a sigh, hefting his crescent-bladed axe. As Sefadin drew the monster's attention, the two of them launched a fresh assault. Speed's weapon dug into its side as Isset's bone-crunching blows hammered its ribs. Shoki flew up from atop the Puppetmaster's shoulders, hands pumping out a series of white-hot balls of flame. It flared its wings up, but Sefadin bashed it in the face with his shield, stunning it, and they immediately drooped back down.

The beast reeled, and Sefadin drew back as well. "Soldiers, form up!" he shouted, and the other two pulled back their attacks. "Let's finish this bad girl off," he ordered, and immediately the level of spiritual energy he was pouring out flared even higher. Isset and Speed followed suit, and Jinxie could feel the intense pressure coming from them as they prepared to launch a final assault.

"Now then," Sefadin yelled, Hauteclaire near blinding with divine light, "on my mark." The Khimaira had recovered, and was roaring with fury at the pain it had been caused. "Over here, sweet thing," he yelled. "I'm back, and I'm coming your way!" He exploded from where he was, blade forward, heading right for the creature's head as Isset and Speed closed in on it from the sides. "Well now I'm supercharged," he leaped into the air, preparing to cleave downwards, Hauteclaire's song filling the air, "and I might just - "

An ephemeral mist burst from the Khimaira's skin, and all at once all the chi Jinxie had been feeling vanished. Hauteclaire's song died in the air and the sword's shine vanished as Sefadin dropped like a stone to the ground. Isset stumbled in her charge, and Speed's axe scraped ineffectually off of the monster's side. All traces of their power dispersed, just as the beast's mist did. Krista's song abruptly stopped as she and Jinxie gaped at the scene.

"What - " Sefadin started to say.

"Captain!" The Bard screamed. "Look out!"

Sefadin did not have time to raise his shield before the beast's enormous head struck him, horns carrying him off the ground and into the air. With incredible agility, it spun around, striking at Isset. The Puppetmaster skipped backwards a step too slow, and its claws left a deep rend in the front of her garment straight down to the skin. She gasped at how close it had been to disembowling her. Speed was already making his way away from it, and the stinger on its tail shot out bursts of poison which narrowly missed the Warrior as he fled.

"Augh, dammit," Sefadin sputtered, scraping mud off his face, "what the hell was that?"

"Tenebrous Mist, sir!" Krista leaned over him, trying to help him get back on his feet. "It disperses any spiritual energy immediately around the Khimaira's body. Very few of them are able to use it."

"Well, I hate it," he spat, clenching his sword in his hand. "Sergeant! Private!" He barked. "Get over here!"

"Busy!" Speed shouted back, the Khimaira now putting its attention on tracking down the fleeing mercenary, like a cat stalking a mouse.

"Shoki!" Isset's puppet snapped to attention, saluting the Puppetmaster. "Distract it!" Shoki nodded, then took off into the air. With one incredible burst, it fired a shockingly large burst of flame spread over the monster's skin. The scent of burning Khimaira washed over them as the creature howled, searching for the source of the fresh assault. Speed wasted no time in darting away from it, making his way over to join Sefadin and Isset.

"It's hurt, too," the mercenary Captain told them, "we can still do this. Let's finish what we started and get out of here, alright?"

"Right!" Isset confirmed. Speed shook his head wearily, drawing his great axe out again.

"This sucks, dude," he complained.

"Dude, I know," Sefadin said sourly, "but you gots to get paid."

"Word," Speed confirmed, and leveled his axe into position.

A moment later, the Khimaira finally laid eyes on Shoki. With a single whip of its tail, the puppet was blasted from the sky, skittering into the mud and out of sight. The Khimaira's attention remained on it just a second too long, and off of the trio of those attacking it.

"Now!" Sefadin commanded.

All at once, Sefadin, Isset, and Speed rushed forward, weapons drawn, closing in on the wounded Khimaira.

In the very next moment, the monstrous beast's howl tore through the surroundings, even as the energy it released did to the trio of attackers.

A dome of pure force erupted from the core of the Khimaira, bursting the ground apart in a violent upheaval. The dread storm of energy crashed into the mercenaries, sending them hurtling backwards through the air, tearing their bodies apart with sheer crushing force.

Sefadin bore the brunt of it, throwing himself forward, shield raised. His feet sank into the mud as he tried to resist the pressure, but within moments he was completely bowled over. Isset was like a leaf in the wind, the energy wave battering her form into the ground and then back towards the cliff wall surrounding them. Speed was picked up completely into the air, coming down so hard he sank into the ground, his axe landing several feet away from his unmoving form. Krista and Jinxie were swept up in it as well, both women torn from where they stood and buffeted through the clearing. Darkness washed over Jinxie as her body hit the ground, and a wave of dizziness turned her stomach.

The energy storm died down, but then a second impact shook the area. Jinxie was thrown into the air, landing hard on her back as the vibration tossed her up and then let her fall. Shaking off the surprise, she opened her eyes to see what had just landed.

Jinxie screamed, covering her head as the Khimaira's fangs wrapped around her.

A blast of hot, fetid breath washed over her, and she could feel the vibrations from the Khimaira's growl shaking her bones. She tensed her body, waiting for the sensation of the monster's fangs piercing her flesh.

It never came.

Her eyes flashed open as she realized she had not been eaten, and a gasp escaped her lips. The Khimaira was being held back, a sword in between its teeth, and a single man in armor bracing against the entire thrust of the beast's weight. With a slicing motion, he tore his blade free, and the monster recoiled with a howl. Gripping it between his armored hands, the swordsman brought his weapon into an attacking posture, the two curved blades rising from the single hilt confirming his identity even before he turned an eye towards Jinxie.

"Sorry we're late, Major," General Rughadjeen told her, and with a start, she realized she was surrounded. The enormous General Zazarg and wiry Gadalar were at her side. The archer Najelith took position behind her, and next to Rughadjeen was the club-wielding Mithra, Mihli Aliapoh. The Five Serpent Generals. the strongest warriors in Aht Urghan, now stood ready for battle with the Khimaira. Bracing his sword, Algol, the Skyserpent rushed forward.

"We'll take it from here!"

Chapter LXXXIX: Spectre

As they made their way through the gilded corridors, Krista passed the time by telling them the tale of the Ruins of Alzadaal. Jinxie scarcely paid attention.

The area was breathtaking, she had to admit. Sretching out as far as she could see were corridors and rooms that looked as if they had been hand-crafted from the floor up. Each piece of intricate metalwork was uniquely shaped and fitted into an incomprehensibly vast pattern, each room another link within it. The walls of the outer chambers were the most impressive part - panes of glass stretching from floor to ceiling, letting occupants see outside into the undersea world which had claimed the Ruins of Alzadaal centuries before.

From what she heard Krista saying, the ruins had been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. Excavation teams would regularly travel down to try and salvage what they could of the ancient Imperial treasures, and encounters with archaic monsters set as guardians were not uncommon. The upper levels of the ruins were clear, but down in the depths there were still menaces to contend with. Fortunately, the path they were to take led them nowhere near the more hazardous areas.

"And that's why the Qiqirn are allowed to explore the area," the Bard was saying, concluding some story Jinxie had only half-heard. She rubbed her nose where a slight bruise discolored the skin. "At least, that's how I heard it."

"Issy," Speed tugged on the Puppetmaster's sleeve, his voice a failed attempt at whispering, "that cat is talking."

"Walahra give me patience," the raven-haired woman muttered.

"We are nearly there," Vaala said from in front of them. The Ninja skirted the halls lightly, remaining ahead of the rest of the group. "There is another portal up ahead."

Jinxie took stock of her companions once again. Vaala was a black ops operative for the Imperial military. Sefadin was a Captain of Salaheem's Sentinels. Krista could use the spellsong, and Isset had Shoki, in addition to her own well-developed fighting skills. When Speed's head was clear, he had strength which Jinxie had seen sever the head off a Hydra.

And she stood among them, powerless. She began to feel upset just thinking about it. These people were willing to risk their lives for her son, and she would not even be honest with them. As far as she knew, no one was aware her powers had disappeared as the price for Kkel Solaar's life. They might be counting on her arcane strength to see them through the inevitable oonfrontations to come, and when they needed it, it would not be there. Their lives were being put in danger under false pretenses. But what other choice did she have? If they knew the truth, there's no way they would have let her come along.

She would not let that happen, she resolved. It would be the same as abandoning Drake, and that was not an option.

The loss of her powers stung ever more sharply, and not for the first time she knew she would do anything to get them back.

Sharply, she turned. She heard no voice nor footfall, but the feeling of a presence behind her was inescapable. The pressure of spiritual energy struck her like a thunderclap. A gasp escaped her lips as her eyes fell upon the source of it, staring right back at her.


The Chamber of Passage jolted into view as Kkel returned once more from an Imperial staging point. Stumbling forward, he found his legs in no condition to support him. He just barely managed to put up a hand and brace himself against the cold stone walls so as not to fall. The sword in his grasp fell with a clatter, and for several moments he let it lay where it was. When he finally was able to kneel down to pick it back up, he felt like he might never stand again.

"Walahra," he gasped, "I'm almost too tired to breathe." He might have worried about saying this around his men, except that he was the only one of them to make it back. A fact that did not go unnoticed by those monitoring his progress.

"You're alone," the familiar voice of Aht Urghan's Grand Vizier was devoid of concern, as usual. "Have the others fallen?"

Kkel shot an icy glare at him. "They stayed at the outpost," he forced the words out. He wanted to explain further, but it was taking everything he had to just stay conscious at this point. The dangers of abusing the Runic Portal had been explained to him, but he never anticipated the sheer level of exhaustion. He'd never felt so bone-weary in his life.

Razfahd stood waiting at the end of the hall, watching the Sunserpent. He said nothing else, only watched the General slowly gather the strength to once more make it to his feet. Arms hanging limply, Kkel raised his eyes to meet those of the Grand Vizier. Gradually, he gathered his breath enough to speak again.

"We all made it out. Pixel is helping them recover enough to make the trip back." Even speaking made him want to collapse and sleep for a week. He left it at that, concentrating on keeping his lungs working.

"Mm," his imperious eye looked over the haggard General. "And you left . . . simply to see if you could?"

Had Kkel the strength to bare his teeth, he would have, but Razfahd's assessment was not far from the truth. He used the Runic Portal ahead of his men to test whether or not another jump would kill them outright.

The hours had been full with skirmishes. The elite cadre of soldiers the Sunserpent borrowed from his fellow Generals burned through the early daylight hours with daring attacks against the Undead Swarm's most well-protected strongholds. Only a dozen in number, they used hit-and-run tactics to infuriate their foes and confuse them as to their size and strength. Their assaults had left a swath of destruction across Lamian territory from Periqia to Ilrusi Atoll, causing a general uproar throughout the entire Arrapago Reef. As soon as real confrontation became imminent, they pulled back and retreated to the nearest Imperial stronghold. Thus far, the scheme had worked flawlessly. With only ten soldiers, Pixel, and himself, Kkel Solaar had convinced the Undead Swarm all of Arrapago was enduring a full-scale attack.

With reinforcements rushing to bolster their defenses and their hordes rushing through the swamps, searching for the phantom Imperial army, the path to Medusa herself was quickly opening up. Kkel's gambit was paying off, and Jinxie would be able to recover her child. That was assuming, of course, that he survived using the portal again.

They had gone three times through the radiant blue light which ushered them from one point of the Empire to another before they started feeling it. At first they dismissed it as the fatigue natural from sustaining such an effort. Constant haranguing of enemy forces, striking with such force and precision, maintaining mobility enough to flee at a moment's notice; any of this would wear out even the most conditioned soldiers. After five times through the portal, they knew it was more than that. They began having trouble breathing, and some began to feel faint. Two of the small battalion were powerful magic users, but found themselves unable to conjure up the dimmest spark for several minutes.

At present, they had gone back and forth through the Chamber of Passage eleven times, and Kkel swore that his heart had stopped for a moment after the last one. His powerful blue magic felt as far away as the moon. Only one thing kept him going.

"I owe her my life," he breathed slowly. "And I will repay that debt in full if I have to."

Razfahd gave no outward reaction to the declaration. Instead, he turned to the Tarutaru soldier whose job it was to oversee the Chamber of Passage and muttered some hushed instructions to him. Snapping a salute to the Grand Vizier, the diminutive trooper hurried out of the room. Once he was gone, the dark-haired Imperial gave a powerful sigh, collapsing unceremoniously into a chair backed up against the wall.

"It seems good people are still paying for my actions, Sunserpent," he addressed Kkel, but directed his words to the open air. Composing himself, he returned his sharp gaze to the Elvaan. "Your men won't be joining you for some time. Reports from our scouts tell us all of Arrapago is in an uproar. You can rest a moment."

"If we stop now, they'll know it was a ruse." He wanted to say more, but found the words caught in his throat.

The Grand Vizier's stoic visage returned. "Jinxie knew the risks, Sunserpent, and she would not want you to die for her." He carefully pyramided his fingers, looking down at them contemplatively. "She is a powerful mage and a brave woman. I am certain there is nothing out there she can't handle."


The manner of steed the man rode she had no name for. It looked like a horse - a creature she had seen in fantasy storybooks as a child - but to call the beast a horse would be calling a grand palace a hovel. It stood twice as high as Jinxie herself, and its head alone was as large as her whole body. A coat of gray hair with a sheen like burnished metal covered the animal, and mane richer than the most exquisite fur was draped down across its thick, powerful neck. Two burning red eyes stared towards her as it bucked its head impatiently, snorting flames and baring a mouth full of thick, pointed teeth. Stretching down from its imposing visage, two curled red horns reached out menacingly. Eight hooves beat against the metal ground, four legs of taut sinew and muscle on each side, but where they stamped there was no ring of iron-like hoof against metal. Only a plume of dark flame burst up from the ground on each movement of its powerful limbs.

Seated atop it, impossibly using this fantastic creature as a mount, was a man covered head to toe in armor. Shoulder plates the size of a human head surmounted a gloriously crafted breastplate inlaid with gold. Mammoth silver gauntlets which grasped the beast's reins stretched up to joint guards which had been forged into nefarious-looking blades. Gilt cuisses matched the heavy steel boots in the stirrups of the incredible horse. Every inch of him was sheathed in armor of gold and silver, right up to a helmet which concealed his face entirely. Instead, it appeared akin to a death's head, and like the horse, it was surmounted by two curled and dangerous horns. From behind the faceplate, though she could not see his eyes, Jinxie felt the power of the man's stare. One hand held the horse in place, the other grasped the shaft of a spear bigger than any man, hooked blade on the end gleaming with wicked intent.

What struck her even more than his appearance was the overwhelming power radiating from his being. The rider was at the end of a long hallway, far behind where Jinxie stood now, but the oppressive weight of his essence nearly crushed her. The waves of sheer malevolence emanating towards her froze her in place. She gaped, unable to move as the rider lowered the blade of his tremendous spear, leveling the weapon towards Jinxie's head. The horse beat its hooves impatiently, flames of darkness rising below it. Locked in position, she could only watch as the rider steadied himself for a charge.

"Hey, boss lady, what's up?"

Startled, Jinxie spun around to find Sefadin's confused face behind her. Gasping, she turned back, only to see an empty hall behind her.

Groping fruitlessly for words, she looked at the Paladin, shock still on her face. He returned a quizzical gaze, taking a step back away from her.

"You shouldn't straggle behind, ma'am," he told her. "We almost went on without you."

"There was . . . " she started to talk, but his expression told her everything. He saw no dark rider, felt no presence. She no longer did, either. Only the long, empty expanse of the Ruins of Alzadaal greeted her eyes when she stared down the hallway. "Nothing," she said finally. "I just got turned around. Sorry to worry you."

"Are you alright?" He put a hand on her shoulder, concern in his voice. "I hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain."

She brushed him away gently, collecting herself. "I'll be fine. Thank you, Sefadin."

"Just doing my job, ma'am," the Captain inclined his head briefly. "Let's catch up to the others, Vaala says we're almost there."

When they reached the rest of the group, Vaala was standing before a platform glowing with the same soft glow of the Runic Portals back in Whitegate. "Through here," she told them. "The ruins are connected by a series of portals like these. This one will take us where we need to go."

True to her word, moments later the cadre appeared within an expansive and ornate chamber, at the end of which was a hallway that took them back to the surface. After a brief word with the Imperial guards stationed at the exit, they took their first steps into the Caedarva Mire.

"Welcome to the jungle," Sefadin proclaimed, outstretching his arms with a flare.

"It's a swamp," Krista said, blinking. "Jungles are different."

The Captain slapped his palm into his own face. "Alright, first thing when we get back, we're going over your lessons in being dramatic."

"Yes, sir," she sighed, kicking a clump of soggy ground.

"Half a day's march will take us to the Arrapago Reef," Vaala told them. "From there we will - "

She stopped. They all did.

From somewhere deep in the mire, far off in the insect-laden swamps and bogs, through the muddy marshes and endless muck, a howl had broken the air.

It was deep, like some great horn bellowing, but rough and guttural as well. The gray skies above suddenly became alive with motion as flocks of birds took wing, fleeing from their nests in the howl's wake. For a long moment it persisted, and then slowly faded away, leaving a trailing echo to crawl its way through Caedarva Mire. Not one of Jinxie's group said a word at first, only exchanging glances as they listened to the wail die down.

"What was that?" Isset finally whispered, and Shoki visibly trembled.

"It sounded huge," Krista was gripping her flute tightly in both hands, her eyes darting back to the entrance into Alzadaal they had just emerged from.

"That," Vaala's voice was quiet, and the Ninja had perhaps unconsciously crouched down slightly, "means we need to be very fast, and very careful."

"What is it, Vaala?" Jinxie could not afford cryptic answers. She had to know what was in the swamp, perhaps even lying in wait for them.

"There's a Khimaira out here," she replied, and in a blur a pair of katana appeared in her hands. "And if we want to see Arrapago alive we must avoid it at all costs."

The proclamation sank in to each of them as she spoke, and a crushing silence overtook them. Jinxie was not even sure what a Khimaira was, but even Speed looked spooked at the thought of it. All the Imperials were given pause at the idea of its presence in the Mire.

As for herself, she had frozen for a different reason.

The moment Vaala had told her what the source of the howl was, she had felt the presence of the dark rider wash over her once again.

Chapter LXXXVIII: Departures and Arrivals

First light had not yet breached the horizon when Kkel Solaar struck.

Like a sudden monsoon, his attack breached the Lamiae defenses at Ilrusi Atoll. In a landscape dominated by half-submerged islands, little more than clumps of mud emerging from the shallows, he seemed to be everywhere at once. The sound of swords clashing against Lamian spears echoed through the fog which blanketed the area. From their makeshift bases, formed from the remains of half-a-hundred shipwrecks, the Undead Swarm rallied to meet their attackers. The reef which crowned the top of the Arrapago Islands became a nest of activity in moments as the Sunserpent made his presence known.

An explosion shook the early morning skies, sending wooden planks careening through the air as the mast of a long-beached trireme toppled like a redwood falling to the ground. The bones of the crew still aboard the vessel were splintered by the force, sinking into the mud as they hit the ground, unusable by the Lamiae which commanded them. Orders were hissed violently in the tongue of the snakewomen, and the rattle of their foot soldier's remains marked them spreading out to search for their foes, hidden deep in the dense fog surrounding the reef. They retreated almost instantly as fire flew from the haze, streaking towards their ranks and leaving the rotting wood of their sunken fortresses in flames.

The confusion was short-lived. A Merrow sorceress emerged from the depths, holding a staff aloft which blazed with intense heat. A wave of flames crashed through the morning fog like a living thing, eating it alive as it roared with great fury through the obscuring mists. Within moments, the fire had devoured enough to clear the air, and the undead charged forward to face their bold assailants head on.

Nothing was there to greet them. Not so much as a ripple creased the water to mark that anything was there. The Undead Swarm stood amongst the flaming husks of the ships which dotted the reef, indecision gripping the Lamiae which pulled their strings. Of the attackers there was no sign, not even a clue as to what direction they may have come from or gone. Angry voices hissed back and forth, and ultimately search parties broke in all directions to sweep the reef and find their hidden foes.

In the time it took for them to make that decision, the Sunserpent and his men were already back in Aht Urghan.


"Through the power of the Astral Wind, the soldiers of the Empire may come and go as they please."

True to his word, Captain Sefadin did look more impressive in armor. As the first vestiges of sunlight crept over the rooftops of Whitegate's Commoners Ward, the polished chain mail links beneath his surcoat glittered brightly. Heavy gauntlets and leggings gripped his limbs, and a scabbard hung from his side, the hilt of his sword never far from his grasp. Save for the grin on his face, the sandy-haired mercenary was unrecognizable from the man Jinxie had met the night before. In his silver armor, blade at his side and shield at the ready, he appeared far more the guardian she had been promised. At the moment, his gaze was locked intently on the massive iron doors which held behind them the Chamber of Passage.

"I'm not sure how it works, or why it can only take you to certain locations, but it's the most important strategic advantage we have." He appeared to be talking as much to himself as the others. "The ability to assault the enemy strongholds and return our soldiers back to their home sweet homes in an instant. I've even started writing a song about it." He cleared his throat, and then in a bold voice, declared "Take me to your heart, feel me in your bones, just one more night and I'm coming off this long and winding road." Pausing, he then gave a nod. "That's all I've got. You should finish the rest."

"Me?" Krista looked startled when her Captain's attention suddenly fell on her.

"Of course! I can't do everything for you, Private. Now finish that song."

She blinked repeatedly, and then began patting herself down. Gone was the heavy cloak and robes she had been wearing the night before. The Mithra was now suited in pants and boots with a simple cape around her shoulders and an open blue jacket with a shirt far too revealing for Jinxie's taste. She was definitely prepared to be mucking about in a swamp rather than performing in a city, and the belt at her waist held a dagger in addition to her flute. "I know a brought a quill and paper," she muttered, searching herself without much luck.

"We'll have to work on this," Sefadin chided, then looked back at the Chamber of Passage. "You never know when the urge to rock is going to strike, Private, you have to be ready. Where was I?" He paused briefly, and then looked towards Jinxie. "Right, using the portal inside. No one has ever attempted what General Solaar is doing today."

"Why is that?"

"Well, using the Hall multiple times is like trying to check out some baller concerts one after the other. You get to the first and it's awesome, and you hear some sweet tunes. Then by the time you get to the second, it's like, "hey man, this is cool, I'm still working a good buzz, let's enjoy it." But then you hit up the third and you're all like "damn, I should've quit drinking like an hour ago, this isn't even my jam, you know?"

Jinxie stared at him. Slowly, she nodded, and Sefadin smiled. "Sweet, I knew you'd get it."

"Using the Hall multiple times exacts a strenuous toll on the user." They turned to find Vaala standing before one of the tall columns lining the broad avenue. As daylight crept across the street, it chased away the shadows concealing her. Jinxie gave a start at her voice, not even realizing the Ninja had joined them until she spoke.

"That's what I said," Sefadin replied, then focused on the apparent newcomer. "So," he gave a low whistle. "they're bringing in the black ops for this one, are they?"

Vaala did not respond. Instead, she took a knee before Jinxie briefly, and then raised her head to await further instruction. Swathed all in black, there was no way of knowing where or how many weapons she had concealed on her person. The mask which hid her face from the bridge of her nose down gave away no expression, and her slim gray eyes never changed.

"The General faces the distinct risk of exhausting himself and his troops," she advised. "To act as we are doing currently goes against all the safeguards normally put in place for use of the Hall."

"Now those military guys, they can go in as much as they want," Sefadin folded his arms as he spoke, brow creasing in thought. "Mercs like us are allowed a few passes a week if we get hired for a mission. Part of it is so we don't stress the magic of the Astral Candesence, but another part is for our own protection."

"Will he be alright?" Jinxie had seen Kkel and Pixel off in the early hours before dawn, and neither had shown any concern for themselves. Pixel had assured the Red Mage she would be seeing the both of them again soon. "They have Pixel, and Gjallarhorn, and Kkel himself . . . "

"It is possible General Solaar's constitution will allow him to use the portals, and the Bard's spellsong will help the others endure as well," Vaala's words were matter-of-fact, "but they will wear out eventually."

"So," Sefadin interjected, his voice far more reassuring, "we'll just have to be done with our part before that can happen."


Bones crunched beneath Imperial boots as the soldiers beneath Kkel Solaar beat a hasty retreat from the Leujaoam Sanctum. The fallen undead at their feet were too battered to respond to the commands of their Lamian masters, torn apart by the powerful magic unleashed by the Sunserpent. From every cavern, the sounds of battle echoed throughout the subterranean lair of the beastmen. Centuries-old crystal formations which grew from the cold granite shook as Kkel's lightning barrage filled the corridors with combat.

Beneath the sound of steel against steel, an undercurrent of something entirely different ran through. A fast-paced March, performed at double the regular tempo, laced itself into the din of battle. It played almost constantly, only audible in between the shouted snarls of Lamian guards and the battle cries of Imperial soldiers. While the rest of the action ricocheted back and forth through the vast series of caverns, the song stayed stationary, its melody reaching out to those whom would hear it. Frequently, a patrol of the undead or even one of their masters would come in search of it. The area around the musician was littered with their remains.

Pixel finished weaving her spellsong for the twelfth time since they entered the underground Lamian domain, and lowered Gjallarhorn from her lips. Kkel nodded to her, and she fell back into the tunnels from which they came. Within moments, the absence of the music became a noticeable void in the rest of the cacophony around them. As soon as it was noted amongst the Imperial soldiers, they fell back from their position, obeying the signal to retreat.

"Are you alright?" Kkel asked with concern when one of his borrowed soldiers came back with a cut across his brow, blood mingling with the sweat which covered his face.

"I'm fine General, I'm fine," he gasped, lurching forward as he struggled to keep his sword in hand, "let's get to the next one."

Kkel clapped him on the back and sent him down towards their escape route. Both he and Pixel shared a look of concern as the last of their brigade made for the extraction point. The strain in their own eyes showed clearly.

The sound of a distant, angry chorus of hissing grew rapidly closer, and the pair followed after their soldiers as serpentine shadows appeared on the cavern walls.


The sun was breaking fully free of the horizon line when Isset arrived, a heavy pack slung over her shoulders. Shoki skittered faithfully by her side and, trailing distantly behind them, a forlorn-looking Speed followed them in.

"What a drag . . . " he complained, dragging his feet as they approached the others. "You shouldn't be able to get up this early, man, there should be like, a law, man."

"Speed!" Sefadin exclaimed. "What's up my man?" The Captain greeted him with a handshake so brief it appeared more like they simply clapped their hands together. "I didn't see you at the show last night."

"I was gonna go, but some major buzzkill made me stay home and get ready for this."

"I'm right here, Speed," Isset reminded him.

"You two know each other?" Jinxie asked, watching them share their greeting.

"Yes ma'am," Sefadin confirmed. "Speed and I met at last year's Crew Fest."

"Crew Fest?" She cocked an eyebrow curiously.

"Ma'am, Crew Fest is a gathering of all the biggest bands, or "crews" in the Empire for an all-day performance, ma'am." Krista received a look of approval from Sefadin as she explained. "It's a treat for Bards and those who just appreciate good music and a good time."

"Word," Sefadin nodded.

"Which word?" Speed scratched his head, confused.

"Doesn't matter, are we all here?"

Jinxie appraised her gathering. Isset and Speed had been with her almost since she had arrived in Aht Urghan, and certainly through all her greatest trials. The Puppetmaster was a true friend, and had proven herself one many times since their meeting outside the palace. Speed was not reliable by any means, but she would have been lying if she said his antics were not at least amusing, and when his head was clear he was the most formidable warrior she had ever come across. She was happy to count the two of them amongst her companions for this latest ordeal. The reminder of their presence, however, also served as one of Xaerus's absence.

Sefadin and Krista she remained unsure of. The Hume certainly looked the part of the Paladin, bedecked in shield and armor, but his disposition was troubling to say the least. And while his trainee certainly displayed an eagerness to perform, she was a greenhorn at best, completely untrained and unprepared for what they could be marching into. She reminded herself that he was a Captain of Salaheem's Sentinels, a higher rank than even Isset held, so he must have proven his mettle in some way or another. It was nothing she had seen with her own eyes, and thus her skepticism remained. They were a colorful pair, but Jinxie would have given much to have Kkel and Pixel by her side instead.

Then there was Vaala. The woman had barely moved and rarely spoken since revealing her presence. None of the others knew anything about her, and that worried Jinxie immensely. She knew the Imperial Palace had been infiltrated up to the very highest levels, who was to say Chiz and his allies had not left agents behind? She watched the Ninja watching all of them, and felt the fear of uncertainty creeping up her belly. She did not want to be uncertain of anything in this endeavor. Her son's life was at stake, there could be no risk of failure.

The thought of Drake in the hands of the beastmen tore through her again, like a wound reopening. She almost doubled over as the still-fresh pain of loss struck her, compounded with the absence of her power. She had surrendered her magic to rescue Kkel Solaar, and it was all for nothing in the end. That which she had been striving to save was taken from her.

She had no recourse, she knew. Whatever misgivings she had, this was the team she had to work with. They had to succeed, and that was all there was to it.

"Miss Jinxie," she turned, almost giving a start as an Imperial soldier appeared at the iron gates which marked the Chamber of Passage, "we're ready for you."


"The scouts are all reporting in. The Undead Horde is on high alert." Razfahd had donned his imperious black armor again, and gestured towards the pedestal before him. Jinxie was amazed to see that images of the Empire appeared on its surface, so real they looked like sculptures made from light. "Garrisons from all over their usual stations in Arrapago and Caedarva are being drawn towards the areas Kkel is assaulting. We will have no greater opportunity to get your unit past enemy lines."

"Alright, let's go get this witch," Sefadin was growing excited. "We'll drop right into Arrapago Reef and take Medusa down today."

"No," the Grand Vizier snapped, "don't be a fool. The Lamian fortress where she dwells is still crawling with snakes. No, you're going in through the ruins."

"Safe," Vaala remarked. "We often use the ruins to approach locations undetected."

Razfahd nodded. "Your window of opportunity is small, so make the most of it. The ruins will bring you as far as Caedarva Mire. Once there, it is up to you to find your way to the Lamian Queen and recover Jinxie's son."

"But that could take days!" Isset sputtered. "How long do you expect General Solaar to hold out?"

Razfahd managed to contain his sneer. "He will be given time to rest, mercenary. The other Serpent Generals are already lining up to take his place so he can recover. Truth be told, our offices are flooded with requests from volunteers wanting to help out the famous Jinxie in any way they can. We will not falter on our end of the operation. Make sure you uphold yours."

"I can guide us through the Mire," Vaala offered. "It will take us more than a day, but not by much. By dawn's breaking tomorrow we shall be near our goal."

"We're ready," Sefadin stated, indicated himself and Krista. The Bard nodded in affirmation.

"So are we," Isset clasped Jinxie's shoulders, looking at her compassionately. "Just say the word, Jinxie. Let's go make them pay for what they did."

She gave her friends, old and new, another look. After only a moment's pause, the Red Mage straightened the brim of her hat, affixed atop her mass of blond locks, and gave them a fierce nod. "Thank you," she managed to find some of her old strength in her voice. "but enough talking. Let's get going."

Isset smiled widely as they all clapped a salute in her direction. At Razfahd's order, they were allowed into the Chamber itself, which was little more than a single hall. Six portals through which soldiers returned to the city from missions abroad were separated by a broad walkway, and situated three on each side. At the end was a staircase, leading straight up to the central portal which would take them to their destination. It flared to life, pulsing waves of blue light towards the low ceiling.

Sefadin was first, ascending the stairs and turning as the light engulfed him. Before he even had time to grin at them, he vanished in a flash. Isset followed after him, both she and Shoki becoming points of brilliant light before blinking away entirely. Then Krista disappeared after them, and then Speed. Vaala gave a short bow to Razfahd and Jinxie before she stepped into the portal, leaving only Jinxie herself behind.

"Jinxie," she was surprised when Razfahd called out to her as she began walking up the stone steps, "I want you to know that I am sorry."

She gazed at him. She had not the energy left to hate this man. "I know, Razfahd," she told the Imperial. "I know."

"Good luck, Bastokan," he wished her sincerely, and then he was gone as her whole world became blue.

"Grand Vizier, sir?" The Tarutaru at the entry to the hall spoke, and Razfahd cast an eye down on him.

"Yes, Sharin-Garin?"

"Sir, I, er, I wasn't notified of any further rotations of Imperial soldiers to relieve General Solaar. Should I prepare the Chamber for . . . ?"

"That will not be necessary," Razfahd interrupted, clasping his hands behind his back. "Kkel Solaar will not be relieved. He knows our soldiers are stretched too thin at the moment. He is prepared to keep this up for as long as he has to."

"But, what you said to the others . . . "

"I said what was required to keep them moving," the Grand Vizier explained, "and to make sure Jinxie's son returns to her safely. I said . . . only what General Solaar and I agreed would be said when the question was raised."

He stared for a long time at the portal in front of him, hoping the Empire would not lose more than it already had by the time this was all over.


Jinxie arrived in the Undersea Ruins of Alzadaal and found the others waiting for her. Like them, she marveled at the expanse of the ruins, which went on endlessly in all directions. She gaped at the windows, revealing aquatic life she had never even dreamed of swimming past them. She admired the intricate work of the ruins, of which every inch from ceiling to floor had been delicately crafted from the finest metals. As Vaala led them through into the deeper parts of the massive underwater complex, it became clear that the astonishing place had an endless supply of surprises and marvels.

With the amazing location surrounding her and the task at hand, it was easy for Jinxie to forget the face she had seen in the moment of her transport from Aht Urghan to the Ruins of Alzadaal.

A masked face, hidden behind a horned white helmet, and mounted on a terrible steed. A knight, waiting for her in the space between worlds.

Watching her.

Chapter LXXX: The Sunserpent Shines

Chiz’s eyes widened as a fist suddenly came within inches of his face. There was a blur of motion, and the tattooed man vanished from the spot where he had been standing. Kkel Solaar’s bare knuckles broke through the rock, shattered stone raining down to the ground below. Tearing his hand free, he turned to find Pixel’s abducter several feet away, clinging to the rock and still gaping in amazement. He saw instantly that Chiz’s hasty escape had cost him something quite dear.

On the ground below Kkel, looking up in open-mouthed astonishment, was Pixel. Chiz had dropped her, and now the Sunserpent stood between them. The development was not lost on either of them.

“Dammit!” Chiz spat, grinding his teeth. “This is impossible! It’s not supposed to happen this way!”

Kkel had no words to respond. Instead, he shot out his hand, and a crack of black lightning sliced forward. It struck only basalt, blasting the rock face apart. The blonde Elvaan lowered his hand in anger. Chiz was gone, melted into the shadows. Not a trace of the tattooed Hume remained.

Their antagonist's escape did not seem to overly trouble the Serpent General. His focus was elsewhere.

Pixel was clinging to him, tears openly streaming down her face. He kneeled down, embracing the Tarutaru and holding her in a close embrace. "I, I never thought . . . " she looked up at him with glittering eyes. "I never even hoped," the Bard gripped him tightly. "It's impossible. Once a Blue Mage turns, they . . .how . . . how did it happen?"

Kkel smiled at her warmly, turning to look at Jinxie. The Red Mage had managed to rise, wavering unsteadily on her feet. Her face and hair were streaked with ash, and she felt like she looked. Every ounce of strength was gone from her, and it was taking everything she had left just not to fall over. Even in her weakened state, she still looked over at Kkel in disbelief. The terrifying fiend which she knew him as was gone. In its place stood the proud Elvaan soldier she had seen in the images of Pixel's Gjallarhorn. And now he was looking at her with the same sense of wonder Pixel was directing at him.

"It was you, Jinxie," he marveled at her. "That moment, fighting Cerberus, I could feel my humanity slipping away. The power was taking me over, but then . . . " he stopped, looking at his hands. A fierce smile broke across his face. "Something reached out to me. Something with overwhelming purity gave of itself willingly. It felt like seeing a lighthouse beacon in the middle of storm in the black of night." The Serpent General had made his way back to her, and now kneeled in front of her in admiration. She stared down at him in surprise. "I followed that light, your light, and it guided me through the darkness. It brought me out of that nightmare and back to myself." Now he rose, brushing a streak of ash from her cheek. "You've done the impossible, Jinxie. You rescued a Soulflayer."

She offered him a weak smile. It was all she could manage. "I'm so happy, Kkel," she breathed, "but I wouldn't want to do it again."

He gave a hearty laugh, embracing the Red Mage tightly. When he released her, she looked down to find Pixel smiling up at her. "Thank you," she said simply, "Thank you."

Kkel began glowing with a soothing white light. A breeze rushed over Jinxie, carrying away her wounds. She sighed, the pain in her joints subsiding, but she still felt as if she hadn't eaten in days. "A trick I picked up from the Dhalmels," he told her, and then turned resolutely to the east, clutching his robe tightly. The garment had appeared blacker than night itself when he had been a Soulflayer, as if made of woven shadow. Now it was simple cloth, and made for a being twice the size of the one currently wearing it. "We've got to get back to Al Zahbi," he stated.

"What's wrong?" Pixel asked, catching the note of warning in his voice.

He put a hand out, indicating the empty battlements around them, scarred by the battle with Cerberus. "There are no Trolls," the Sunserpent observed ominously. "They only leave this area for one reason."

The Tarutaru gripped Gjallarhorn tightly. "They're attacking the city."

Kkel nodded. "Jinxie, can you walk?" She took a halting step, and almost fell. Wasting no time, Kkel suddenly scooped her up in his arms, nodding to Pixel. The Bard played a lively, fast-paced mazurka, and the spellsong wrapped around the duo. "Let's go, Pix!" Jinxie could feel the excitement emanating from both of them. She realized this was the first time in a very long time that the two were facing a new adventure together. She would have smiled if she could find the energy.

Propelled by her song, the Bard and the Blue Mage sped back through Mount Zhayolm. They were back through the enormous iron gates before Jinxie knew it, and moments later were rushing by the barren wastes where the Wamoura flew. Within minutes, they were back at the portal they had come in from. Jinxie felt the same dizzying sensation as she was enveloped in a purplish glow, and her surroundings rapidly altered.

She staggered as Kkel set her down. Blinking, she examined her surroundings. This was the Hall of Transference, she realized. They were back in Whitegate. Surprisingly, she found her bearings had returned, as well as some semblance of balance. The Red Mage was able to walk down the stairs as Kkel marched out in front of her, greeted by gasps from the Hall's attendants.

"G- General Solaar!" One of them blurted out, dumbfounded.

"Where did you come from?"

"The Sunserpent! He's back!"

"Did you kill the Soulflayer?"

"General Solaar!" A Tarutaru Jinxie recognized as the one whom had been gibbering in the corner when she came through here the first time shouted. "General, General! The city is under attack! You've got to help us!"

"Enough!" Kkel threw out a hand, his blue eyes gleaming. The attendants fell silent in an instant. From the smile on his face, Jinxie could tell he was enjoying this a great deal. "Somebody go find my armor. And it sure as hell better be red!" He stopped, turning on his heel. He and Pixel shared a look of untethered excitement. "Ready, Pixel?"

She nodded. "Always."

"Then let's go save the Empire."


Rughadjeen swung his double-bladed sword like a hammer, battering back Gurfurlur the Menacing. The Troll angrily bellowed at the Skyserpent as the algol swept over his bark-like sin. Gurfurlur hastily defended himself, but the Serpent General’s unforgiving assault was quickly proving more than the Troll had bargained for. Rughadjeen was relentless, weapon a blur as it repeatedly sliced into him. A thick, orange blood was trickling out of a dozen different wounds on Gurfurlur’s body. Behind them, the battle was raging as the Imperials fought to beat the Trolls back. Spurred on by their leader’s bravery, the Empire’s soldiers were managing to regain the ground they had lost.

Gurfurlur shouted an obvious threat in Trollish, and then tore a piece of the street from its foundation. With impeccable accuracy, he hurled the chunk of Al Zahbi’s firmament at the Serpent General, striking him in the chest. Rughadjeen skidded back several feet, leaving a scar in the ground as the algol scraped across it, slowing his momentum. Shaking off the impact, the Elvaan tore his weapon free and ran forward, blade meeting Gurfurlur’s fists. Ignoring the stinging cuts inflicted on his own knuckles, Gurfurlur met the Skyserpent’s swings with ferocious blows. Rughadjeen pulled back for fear that he would drop his weapon in the face of such power.

Taking advantage of the Elvaan’s momentary lapse, Gurfurlur smashed his fists into the ground at Rughadjeen’s feet. A tremor plowed forward from the point of impact, throwing the Serpent General from his feet. As he sailed through the air, the Troll King ran forward, muscles going taut, and released a devastating haymaker on the airborne Skyserpent. Like a cannonball, Rughadjeen shot into the gates to the Residential quarter, disappearing behind a wall of debris as he broke through the brick and mortar. His soldiers reacted in shock, swarming defensively towards the site of impact. They need not have bothered.

Only seconds after careening through a brick wall, Rughadjeen came roaring back out again. Dust fell from him in a cloud as he broke free from the mass of fallen stones, cutting through the Trolls before him in seconds. Gurfurlur growled in surprise and anger, but then, with a cry of victory from its owner, the algol was in the air. From the Serpent General’s blade, a blinding flash of energy radiated out into the Troll ranks. They howled as Rughadjeen’s energy sliced through them, leaving those which survived sightless in the aftermath. Gurfurlur the Menacing howled as he struck out blindly, fists searching for the body of his opponent. He roared in Trollish with a voice full of fury.

“The Boss says you’re too scared to fight him fair!” The Moblin at Gurfurlur’s side was shouting angrily, hopping up and down. “He says he’ll tear you apart when he can see you!”

“Megomak!” Rughadjeen raged over the sound of battle. “This is your doing! Criminal scum, I’ll put an end to you right here!” The Serpent General surged forward, beating through the Troll ranks with fire in his eyes.

“N-n-no!” Megomak faltered in the face of Rughadjeen’s anger, stepping back behind Gurfurlur. “I – I’m just the middle-Moblin! P-p-protect me, Gurfurlur!”

The Troll King was still blinking spots from his eyes, his world a dim blur. The Skyserpent was rushing towards the both of them, pulling back his sword with intent to skewer the beastman on its dual ends. Megomak crouched down, simpering as Rughadjeen inexorably closed in upon him.

A great cry of confusion suddenly spilled out across the battlefield. Rughadjeen never reached Megomak or Gurfurlur, and the Moblin opened his eyes at the sound of a titanic clashing of blades.

The twin heads of Gulool Ja Ja hissed at General Rughadjeen. From the north, an entire column of Mamool Ja had broken off from the fighting in Ulthalam’s Parade Grounds and gone to reinforce the Trolls. The Imperial units were now swarmed under by two consecutive waves of beastmen. Assaulted by Troll and lizardman alike, they were pushed back almost immediately, leaving Rughadjeen alone to battle Gulool Ja Ja and Gurfurlur the Menacing on his own. Gulool slashed down with his twin blades, and Rughadjeen leaped backwards. A spray of broken stones assailed him as the ground was smashed apart by the Autarch’s swords. He landed, the algol held upwards protectively, as Gurfurlur stepped forward to Gulool Ja Ja’s side.

And the Skyserpent knew why they would take such a risk, weakening their main unit to support the secondary offensive. Because they knew as long as he stood, the door to their treasure would never open.

Faced with the lords of two beastmen hordes, Rughadjeen was forced to wonder how long even he could hold out.


“I will not allow this atrocity to take place,” Razfahd snarled at his soldiers. The Immortals were lined up en masse before him at the Imperial Palace. Aht Urghan’s crack Blue Mages shared uncertain glances between them as their Grand Vizier detailed his orders to them. “We will ourselves join the battle and teach these animals what it means to trespass on the Empire’s land.”

“But – Grand Vizier,” one of them said uncertainly, “The palace . . . “

“The palace will not fall under attack,” Razfahd asserted. “We can leave it unguarded for the time it will take to clean up this mess.”

“Sir, with all due respect, the Empress will be undefended. We cannot simply abandon our most important duty!” Somewhat bolder than the rest, the Immortal’s words stirred a murmur of agreement from their ranks.

Razfahd glared. “And what of the Empress should the Astral Candescence fall into beastmen hands?” he demanded. “Tell me what you would make of duty then, Rishfee!”

“My job is to defend the Empress, sir,” the Blue Mage told him coolly, “not to clean up after your mistakes.”

A hush fell over the room as the Grand Vizier stared at the Immortal. Rishfee kept his eyes forward, Razfahd’s burning gaze washing over him in the uncomfortable silence. To the astonishment of all gathered, Razfahd turned away, his back now to the Imperial Guard. His voice was hushed, and tinged with a regret they had never before heard from their commander.

“You don’t understand,” it was almost a plea, “I’ve got to set things right. I must defend the Empire. No matter what.”

Glances were exchanged between the Immortals. Most were aching to get outside and fight the beastmen, but their duty to the Empress came first. None were sure what to do.

The silence was suddenly broken by the sound of boots slapping against the marble floors. Razfahd’s head darted up as a messenger suddenly swung open the doors to the Imperial chamber. His uniform was ragged, and he appeared totally winded as he panted his way towards the Grand Vizier. Razfahd drew himself up, the fire returning to his eyes at the intrusion.

“What is the meaning of this?” He demanded.

“Sir – sir, news from the battlefield!” The soldier stopped, bending over and panting raggedly. Waving a hand to beg for a moment to recover, he soon took a gasp and stood up straight. “Sir, the Undead Swarm!” He breathed out heavily, and it was obvious he must have sprinted clear from Al Zahbi to the palace.

“What of them?” There was alarm in Razfahd’s voice. “Are they attacking Whitegate? Are they approaching the palace?” He ground his teeth as the soldier shook his head rapidly. “Then speak, man! What are you trying to tell us?”

He stood at attention again, spitting out his words in a great deluge. “The Lamiae are retreating, sir! They’ve left the field of battle and the Mamool Ja have split their forces in half and now they have no reinforcements on the front lines and – “ he took another deep gasp, his face turning red.

Razfahd, however, was already speaking over him. “Retreating?” He gaped. “Why would they . . . there’s no time to wonder about that now.” Rounding on the Immortals, he raised up his hands imploringly. “There will be no better opportunity than this. We will strike now and drive them back. With the Lamiae gone we will not need the entire palace guard – some of you remain here and defend Nashmeira! The rest of you, with me to Al Zahbi! Let us eliminate this menace!”

A fierce cry went up from the Immortals. Swords were drawn into the air as a circle of them were quickly chosen to stay behind and the others rushed forth into battle. They charged past the messenger, who feebly attempted to regain their attention. His breathless voice was lost beneath their rallying cries and boots clapping against marble floors. By the time he was able to finally get out the rest of his message, the hall was empty.

“Wait!” He cried feebly. “You didn’t let me tell you –“ he trailed off as he realized there was no one left to hear him. “ – about what happened in Whitegate . . .”

His words reached no one as he finally collapsed, the sound of his labored breathing echoing through the palace.


General Rughadjeen sailed through the air, straining to stay conscious. He went limp, landing back-first against the Al Zahbi streets and skipping like a stone upon them until he hit a wall. Groaning, he struggled to his knees, using the algol for support. A bloody gash had opened up on his cheek, mixing with the dust and sweat covering his face. The Elvaan strained, rising to his feet again as a booming sound began growing steadily closer. Bracing himself, Rughadjeen faced down Gurfurlur, charging at him like an enraged Wivre. The Skyserpent stood his ground, meeting the Troll’s fists with his sword. His muscles strained to keep his grip on the hilt as the Menacing’s gargantuan fists tore into his flagging defenses.

A moment later, the ground lurched as Gulool Ja Ja smashed down from a spectacular leap. Rughadjeen quickly slashed at Gurfurlur’s massive frame, causing the Troll to leap back. Just in time, he was able to swing the algol around, meeting Ja Ja’s blades with his own. He parried the lizardman’s stroke, the ringing of steel on steel echoing in his ears. With a heave, he pushed the Autarch away, returning his attention to Gurfurlur. The two exchanged fearsome blows, but the Troll’s strength won out. A shattering punch caught Rughadjeen square in the chest, and the Serpent General collapsed, gasping for air. An indentation of Gurfurlur’s fist dented his breastplate, and he stared down at it as he struggled to breath.

He looked up again. Neither beastman commander was attacking. Their attention had been diverted by something else.

“Where are you going?” Gulool Ja Ja’s wizard head demanded of someone Rughadjeen could not see.

“Stay and fight!” the warrior head ordered, brandishing its sword threateningly.

Something suddenly brushed by him, and he gagged on the stench of swamp gas and stagnant water. A Merrow, he realized, seeing its muck-covered tail slide past him. Then the clatter of bones rattling against one another filled his ears. The Skyserpent finally caught his breath, looking up to find the undead swarm in full retreat. Medusa gently swayed her hips in front of an incessant Gulool Ja Ja, her expression bored and dismissive.

“We have what we came for,” she told him. “Our dance is complete.”

Gurfurlur roared at her in Trollish, and Megomak leaped up and down simultaneously. “This wasn’t part of our deal, Medusa! You’re going behind our back!”

She smiled, revealing a mouth full of pointed teeth. “What a funny little two-legs,” she said, and Megomak quickly scrambled behind Gurfurlur. “My Lamiae have won the day. The tide of battle is turning, and we will not dance when we cannot lead.” She glided onwards, leaving an irate pair of beastmen behind her.

“Pay for this, you shall!” Gulool Ja Ja’s warrior head promised.

“Our lines shall surely crumble without their support,” the wizard head warned.

“No, no, no!” Megomak stomped his feet. “The Astral Candescence was supposed to be ours!”

Rughadjeen was on his feet now. Their attention was off of him, and their defenses down.

Gurfurlur growled, and Gulool Ja Ja shook his swords menacingly. “Have Medusa’s hide, we will . . . “ the lizardman swore.

“We can still win this,” Megomak insisted. “If we swing all of our forces towards the Hall of Binding now . . . “

The Skyserpent saw his opening. In a flash, he ran forward with all the speed he had left, swinging the algol in a perfect spinning arc, aimed directly at Gurfurlur the Menacing’s back. Rughadjeen’s speed and skill were both formidable, greater than that of any of the other Serpent Generals they had faced today.

Yet he was still not the equal of Gulool Ja Ja, who lashed out his hand like a whip. Before the algol had so much as creased Gurfurlur’s skin, the lizardman’s sword hit Rughadjeen like a whirlwind, driving him back into the wall from whence he had came. The algol fell to the ground in a clatter. The Elvaan’s head cracked against the stone wall of Chocobo Alley, and his helmet dropped from his drooping head. He struggled to rise, one last time, but a shadow fell over him and he knew the day was lost.

Gurfurlur’s fist smashed Rughadjeen into the ground. The Serpent General’s body cracked the stones, and a gush of blood shot from his mouth. He gave a final twitch, an involuntary spasm which rocked his whole body. Then he went still, sunken in to the streets of Al Zahbi by the Troll King’s power, a red puddle forming around his head. There was nothing left in him to give. Skyserpent General Rughadjeen finally fell.

Gurfurlur took no time to appreciate his handiwork. A roar of triumph broke from his lips, and the ground shook as he began running north. Soldiers were fighting near the Bastion - the Mamool Ja had been nearly completely pushed from the Ulthalam Parade Grounds. It mattered little to Gurfurlur. He simply pushed aside anyone in his way, rampaging forward and nearly creating a new front all by himself. The beastmen in the southern sector began charging north again, spurred on by Gulool Ja Ja. This was the distraction he needed.

With Rughadjeen down, the seals upon the Hall of Binding were broken. The Astral Candescence was in their grasp.

The soldiers of the Empire knew it, too. They were striving to head north towards the Hall and defend the doors, but the Trolls were harrying them from the south. In the confusion, the Mamool Ja gained a new edge, locking the soldiers in combat at the Bastion. Gurfurlur met practically no resistance on his way, and what he did encounter the Troll King easily smashed his way through. He was practically frothing in anticipation. He encountered a narrow gateway, and plowed his way through, widening the entrance with his fists. The scarred gate left a trail of rubble behind him, obstructing the path of any in pursuit. The Hall of Binding lay before him, practically undefended. Megomak ran at his heels, barely containing squeals of glee as he saw the gate in front of him, the seals which had frustrated them so many times in the past now gone.

Clenching his fist, Gurfurlur gave a mighty howl, and then let loose upon the Hall of Binding. His punch was enough to make the thick gates swing open, all locks upon them snapping like twigs. The path to Hall lay open for the Troll King. Wasting no time, he rushed inside.

The sensation of being completely hurled from his feet by a force greater than his own was not one he encountered often. Thus Gurfurlur the Menacing lay on the ground in shocked surprise for quite a few more moments than he had actually been stunned. Haltingly, he planted his hands beneath him, sitting upright and staring at the trail he had made when he was thrown backwards. When his body was thrown backwards, he left a trench in the street from the force. A confused sound escaped his lips.

The doors to the Hall of Binding had shut themselves up tight.

A warding seal blazed brightly above the five which had been extinguished.

“We got here just in time,” Kkel told Pixel, and the Tarutaru nodded with a smile, bringing Gjallarhorn to her lips. From his place atop the Hall of Binding, the Sunserpent General leaped down to confront the strongest of the beastmen.

His red-and-black armor shone brightly in the Aht Urghan sun as he took to the air. The gloves and boots he wore were black with golden inlayings identical to those Razfahd had been sporting. The rest of his battle raiment, however, was uniquely his own. A thick red corazza protected his body, and bore upon it his crest – a blazing sun. When he landed, he straightened with an excited grin. Drawing two curved blades from either side of his waist, Kkel Solaar attacked.

He thought of the oversized rams which roamed Caedarva Mire. The rush of blue magic charged through his body, augmented by Pixel’s spellsong. Unheard of strength flooded his limbs, and he charged forward as one of the beasts would do to one if its foes. Impact doubled Gurfurlur over, striking him the stomach. Kkel deftly avoided the Troll’s attempts to grab at him, slicing his blades at its midsection as he leaped back. He was thinking of the Mamool Ja, an easy task with so many in the city, using their evasiveness against his foe.

Gurfurlur roared angrily, charging forward. Kkel thought of the Puks wandering Bhaflau Thickets, and the confusing images the giant dragonflies created with their rapidly beating wings. The Menacing flew directly past the Sunserpent, already sidestepping his clumsy strike and leaving a phantom image in his way. No sooner was Gurfurlur past him than he began thinking of Imps. The Menacing howled as Kkel unleashed a three-fold strike on his exposed back, ripping into him as the fierce claws of one of the dark messengers would. Gurfurlur swung his arm out, and again the Blue Mage dodged it easily. His swords sang as he brushed them against one another, daring the Troll King to attack him.

Enraged, Gurfurlur ran forward, drawing back his fist. The mammoth Troll’s muscles bulged unbelievably as he tore the ground apart with every stride. With unforgiving power, he smashed his fist into the side of Kkel’s head, whipping it sideways as his other fists rocketed forward, tearing the Sunserpent from his feet as it caught him the ribs. He flew high into the air, his body limp, and came down with a resounding crash.

Gurfurlur swung his gaze about excitedly, and then growled in a tone befitting of the title “The Menacing.”

The seal was still in place.

Kkel Solaar stood up behind him, diamond-hard skin cracking as his thoughts shifted again. “I took that one from you,” he smiled, and Gurfurlur roared in response. Kkel ignored it. He was thinking of the red dragons of Mount Zhayolm.

Blue magic created a crater as the Sunserpent leaped into the air and then came spiraling down. His mass increased exponentially, and when he landed a great upheaval rippled out from the ground. Gurfurlur was nearly torn from his feet as the concussive wave shook him. Kkel stood before his opponent, eyes gleaming the color of his namesake as Pixel played on. The spellsong in the air enervated him, bringing him to new heights of power. Atop the Hall of Binding, the Tarutaru was giving Kkel everything she had. Gjallarhorn’s music was more beautiful right now than any symphony the Serpent General had ever heard.

His mind traveled to trips abroad, and the Manticores of Zepwell Island’s desert sprang to mind.

First there was a billowing of smoke from his nose, and then the aura of blue magic around him went red-hot. Kkel inhaled deeply, the air heating up around him. With a tremendous exhalation, a wave of flame shot from the Blue Mage’s mouth, sweeping over Gurfurlur the Menacing. The Troll King howled as he was overtaken by fire, made all the worse by Pixel’s song changing to swift threnody directed at the brute. With the spellsong making him even more vulnerable to fire, Gurfurlur cried out in pain as Kkel’s heat breath engulfed him.

A final trickle of fire dripped from the Sunserpent’s lips as he cut off the stream. Pixel’s song went silent, and they both watched the inferno before the Hall of Binding as it burned Gurfurlur down. A simpering whine behind him turned the Blue Mage’s head, and he found Megomak watching the scene in terror.

“So, the Martial Maester himself walks in Al Zahbi’s streets,” Kkel said mockingly, his voice still bearing the qualities of a burning fire. “You must think you’ve come quite far.” His aura flared up around him, and a number of thoughts raced through his head. The Moblin was one of the Empire’s most wanted criminals, even since before Solaar had left. It was his money which had purchased the services of the Troll Mercenaries, often for the single purpose of opposing the Empress. If a deal were negotiated between the beastmen and Chiz’s organization, Megomak was almost assuredly the one behind it.

And now, he was in Kkel’s clutches. The Moblin gazed at him questioningly as he sheathed one of his swords. Then he started blubbering when the black lightning of a Soulflayer began crackling in the Sunserpent’s palm.

“P-p-please!” he begged, blubbering at Kkel. “I’ll tell you everything! You’ve got to know I have secrets! Just don’t kill me! Don’t kill me, please!”

“I’m going to put you out of a lot more people’s misery than just your own,” the Sunserpent promised, and the Moblin fell to his knees with a miserable cry as Kkel leveled his blast at him.

“Kkel! Look out!”

Pixel’s voice reached him too late to stop the massive fingers encompassing his skull.

Gurfurlur rose from the flames with an ear-shattering roar, snatching Kkel’s head and swinging the Serpent General about as if he were weightless. He felt his body smack against the door to the Hall of Binding, reflected by his own seal. Gurfurlur ground him into it, and then angrily tossed him aside into a wall. The impact shook his other sword from his hand, leaving him stunned. He came back to his senses just in time for the raging Troll King to wrap a mammoth hand around one of his ankles. Gurfurlur swang Kkel like a club, bashing him into the ground three times over.

Writhing, Kkel’s mind flashed to Lamiae, and he desperately released a sudden burst of blue magic which slapped the Troll across his face. He let go of the Sunserpent, stunned, but not long enough. No sooner had Kkel come back to his feet than Gurfurlur’s fist buffeted him back against the door. He let loose the crackling bolt of lightning he had brought forth for Megomak, but Gurfurlur took it full in the chest and kept right on coming. His enormous arms swung out, and he brought them down like clubs to batter the Sunserpent into nothingness.

Kkel filled himself with Gurfurlur’s own power, and caught the Menacing’s fists in the air. Even as his skin hardened, he could feel the Troll King’s awesome power bearing down on him. The ground quavered at his feet, and then broke apart. The Serpent General began being pushed into his own grave as Gurfurlur’s impossible might crushed him. He wagered he was at least as resilient as a diamond at the moment. As Gurfurlur’s hands wrapped around his arm up to the elbow, it became clear the Troll could crush diamonds in his palm.

“That’s right!” Megomak yelled, and Gurfurlur started bellowing at Kkel in his native tongue. “Gurfurlur says he is the mightiest! All your magic tricks are meaningless before him! Gurfurlur is mighty!” The Troll King barked out a string of words, and Megomak gleefully translated. “Gurfurlur says he will take Al Zahbi when he is done! He says if you are the strongest they have, then this city is done for! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Nothing is stronger than Gurfurlur the Menacing, Imperial! What do you think about that, huh? What are your last words for your better, Gurfurlur?”

Kkel ground his teeth, straining to stay focused. His arms were about to be snapped off at the elbow, if he wasn’t crushed up against the ground first. Blue eyes glared into Gurfurlur’s bulging red as the Sunserpent struggled with all he had to get out his next sentence.

“Tell him. . . “ he grunted as the ground sank in again, the pressure being brought against it more than mere stone could stand. “Tell . . . him . . . “ Kkel Solaar’s brilliant blue aura suddenly flared up higher than it had been yet, before suddenly collapsing down, gathering just in front of his chest.

“Tell him I’m thinking of Wamouracampa.”

A cannonball-shaped sphere of pure energy ripped out of Kkel Solaar’s being. Gurfurlur choked on his orange blood as he was struck. It tore through his body, punching through him as he had done to so many others. It erupted from his back, a fountain of blood pouring out as chunks of dense Trollish bones sailed through the air. Gurfurlur the Menacing, leader of the Trolls, staggered backwards uncertainly. He gaped at the sucking wound in his chest, burned clean through to the other side. Gingerly, he reached one hand up to touch it, and then looked at Kkel, confused. The Troll King took a step forward, mumbling something in his own language, and then his eyes rolled up into his head.

The tremor shook the area before the Hall of Binding as Gurfurur the Menacing fell, collapsing dead on the streets of Al Zahbi.


“Cowards, you are!” Gulool Ja Ja screamed as the Troll Mercenaries broke and ran. They had all seen Gurfurlur fall, and the sight of the greatest among them being killed was too much for even the stalwart beastmen. The Mamool Ja were quickly finding themselves alone against an increasingly emboldened enemy.

“We’ve come so far!” The warrior head shouted. “We can defeat these smoothskins, we can!”

“Mamool Ja, fight!” The wizard head ordered. “Not the end, it is!”

The lizardmen began regrouping, staving off the Imperial forces now threatening to surround them. One more push and they could break into the Hall of Binding, and then they would see how this Elvaan fared against an entire army.

Gulool Ja Ja howled as explosions suddenly rocked the ground at his feet. His soldiers began bursting apart, spilling green blood in torrents as they were blasted limb from limb. The bombardment targeted their front lines, pulverizing the strongest amongst them in seconds. A demoralizing wave of fear swept through them as in droves they began to break and run.

“Yar har har har! Lookit how they run, Akisu!” Arvin laughed as he set off another round of cannon fire. “It was well worth th’ time it took t’ haul these up th’ walls, don’t ye agree?”

“Absolutely, Captain!” Akisu agreed, running across the line of the Proteus’s heavy armament now situated on the walls of Al Zahbi. “The Captain wants another barrage! Load them up, men! Let’s show these snakes that you can’t beat a pirate!”

“You can’t beat the Imperial Army either,” a voice on the ground warned, and Gulool Ja Ja turned to find Razfahd standing before an entire company of Blue Mages. “Surrender!” He demanded, and Gulool Ja Ja hissed at him defiantly.

“Never, smoothskin!” retorted the Autrach, brandishing both his blades.

“You’re finished!” A woman shouted at him, and he saw to his south the Imperial Army had regrouped. Isset and Shoki stood at the front of an invigorated Imperial troop, along with Speed, who appeared completely focused.

And then the gates of Whitegate flew open, and Autarch snarled at what he saw next.

Jinxie strode out from behind them, and at her feet came the assembled citizens of Whitegate. Spurred on by the call of the Sunserpent, hundreds had leapt to volunteer in his name. Brandishing everything from miner’s picks to family heirloom swords, the people of Aht Urghan assembled to stand with their fighting men and woman.

“Your allies are gone and your legions are in disarray,” she declared in a strong, resolute voice. “Leave this city, Mamool Ja,” she drew her sword forth, and hundreds of weapons rang free in response, “while you still have the chance.”

Immediately, the lizardmen began throwing down their weapons. Gulool Ja Ja roared at the soliders as they ran, shaking his swords at them and shouting dire threats.

“What are you doing?” The warrior head shrieked. “Advance! Adva –“

His voice was cut off as another series of explosions shook the ground at his feet. Arvin’s laughter rang out in unison with the shock of cannonballs peppering the ground.

“Mamool Ja, retreat!” The wizard head had seen enough. “Retreat!”

Melting away like a serpent shedding its skin, the last of the beastmen forces fled from Al Zahbi. A resounding cheer went up from their forces. As Gulool Ja Ja himself turned tail and ran from the Empire’s might, even Razfahd allowed himself a moment of exultation. The celebration only grew when Kkel and Pixel emerged from the site of their battle with Gurfurlur. Shouts of victory rang through the streets as the citizens of the Empire relished in their triumph. Their strongest foes had assailed them, and had found themselves lacking.

Jinxie allowed herself a moment to soak it all in. Her weakness was beginning to fade, and she was thinking with perfect clarity. She had done it, everything she had to and more. Now the Empire would assist her with the horror of what was happening across the ocean.

Finally, finally, she could go home.