By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Eleven
"I suppose our meeting has been destined that we meet sooner or later." Tmelan stated calmly as Toymaker glared at him.
"You were the one behind all of those amubushes?" he asked.
"You could say that. If you don't mind my saying - you are something else. I never would have thought you capable of surviving what you did. But then again - with your legacy - I suppose i really shouldn't be too surprised - should I?" Tmelan asked coyly.
"I don't know why you chose to start this - but i will finish it." Toymaker began. A Rod of ruin appeared in his hands. Tmelan looked at it and shook his head. a bolt of white light shot from his hand and disenchanted the magical artifact.
"Your toys are powerless against me. whatever you create - with a wave of my hand - i can destroy." Tmelan stated proudly.
"Destroy this!" Toymaker retorted. a powerful fireball shot out from his hand and soared at the unimpressed wizard. Before the spell could hit it's mark - it fizzled. At first he didn't understand how it happened - but thenhe noticed the two circles of protections that were around the wizard on the floor.
"One for red - one for blue. We are at an impass my friend. Your toys can not affect me - your spells cannot touch me. Give up - and go home." Tmelan stated smugly.
"I don't plan on going anywhere any time soon." Toymaker stated. he extended his hands out. several artifcats appeared before him. Three were sumarily disenchanted - four crumbled. Toymaker looked at the smug looking wizard.
"Was that your best effort?" he asked coyly.
"Not really." Toymaker replied calmly. he closed his eyes. he had a plan - but if he was off - it was going to leave himself wide open. he opened his eyes. he began to cast a cheap spell. as predicted he attempted to destroy it with a white spell. Toymake's gauntlets glowed blue - the spell was held firmly in place.
"Ughn - a power sink..." Tmelan strained. he felt his power being drawn into the spell. Just then the white spell fizzled. Toymaker smiled at his foe. without power to back it - the circle of protection - was useless.
"Time to pay." Toymaker stated. with one hand he conjured up a small talisman. With the other he cast a fireball. the fireball hit Tmelan square in the chest. Although it didn't kill him - it did hurt him. Toymaker tossed the small talisman off to the side before his foe could notice it. Tmelan regained his composure and glared at the foe he had underestimated.
"Cute - i wasn't expecting that. You won't surprise me like that again." he stated.
"We'll find out soon enough." he retorted. the two wizards could feel the power returning to them. round one had finished - it was now time for round two.
"You had your turn - now feel what i can do." Tmelan began.
"Already have." Toymaker retorted.
"No - no. That was just slaves doing my bidding - puppets that i controlled. You haven't witnessed the true extent of what i can do." Tmelan stated proudly.
"Then I guess we'll find out. Here are some drones i picked up in my travels - i tweeked them up a bit - but besided that - they are exactly like their ancestors." Toymaker retorted. he clapped his hands. a modified version of a Yotian Soldier appeared before him - then another and another until ten were before them.
"Yes - they are cute. I too like old spells. this one is called - wrath of god!" Tmelan stated. He waved a hand in a circle - all of the artifact creatures exploded. Toymaker cast a subtle look over at the talisman.
"I think it is time we finish this little game." Toymaker stated.
"You forget - my circles protect me." he replied.
"I guess we'll find out." Toymaker replied. he cast a low power enchantment on himself and then looked at his foe. he cast weak fireballs - attempted to cast powerful artifacts - all attempts were thwarted by his disenchanting magics or were stopped by his circles.
"Well, that was pointless. You went through all of that - and you still accomplished - nothing. you haven't the power to cast another spell - give up." Tmelan goaded.
"But that is where you are wrong. You tapped yourself out. You have enough to feed your circle - but you don't have enough to save yourself. I have just placed the device in motion. within seconds - the Nevenrile's Disk that i summoned will be fully charged. You don't have the power to stop it." Toymaker stated smugly. Tmelan looked over and saw the glowing artifact.
"But - but the - it would kill you too." he replied nervously.
"No it won't - i will just - phase away. You lose." Toymaker stated coldly. Tmelan watched as Toymaker slowly faded from sight. He then could no longer feel his presence. Tmelan then looked over at the talisman and saw mystical vines pushing out from the closed talisman.
"No..." he muttered.
At that moment, back where Thortan was waiting. He heard a loud rumbling. He looked over and saw huge vines smash out from the top of the fortress. They lashed out and systematically destroyed everything that was near it.
Within seconds - the entire empire was in ruins.
To be continued...
