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A deafening crack of thunder broke the moment as wind blew the four of us to the ground. Quickly I raise myself up on my elbow to see the vibrant blue and gold sphere-like energy that made up the portal to and from Nosis.
Chris too on his elbows yells to me over the blowing wind, “What the hell is that?” I reply as I get to my feet, “It’s the portal that bridges Nosis and Earth, but it shouldn’t be open now. Even with the time difference it shouldn’t be open for another two days or more.” Chris getting to his feet asks, “So what does it mean?” Reia helping Amanda up answers, “It could mean a number of things. Maybe Mage Golin got rid of the Horde quicker than he thought.” Shaking my head I reply, “Call me pessimistic but I doubt it. It is more likely that someone is forcing him to do it.” “Should we go through?” asks Reia. Nodding I reply, “Yes, remember Mage Golin said he could only make one more portal so we’d…” A boom stops me mid sentence as we all focused on the portal. The blue sphere ripples like water as the golden energy swirls about along the event horizon. An electric sizzle sounds as a shadow begins to form on the surface of the portal. Growing in size the shadow shapes itself into a human silhouette.
My hair violently dances in the wind as I look to the others. Amanda clutches Chris tightly around his chest as he guards her face from the onslaught. Reia stands next to Chris one hand on his shoulder the other grasping her staff. Turning back to the portal I see the figure of a man now in place of the shadow. Two more figures appear out of the portal and the wind calms signaling they are the only travelers.
With the wind no longer forcing my gaze away I can see the figures. The three stand looking about, surveying their surroundings. The two in the back are Malkree, tall, hairy, ape-like beasts created by the Saekoo to be used as soldiers in the war. Though they’re slow they make up for it by being astonishingly strong and extremely difficult to kill with conventional weapons. The smaller one in front is dressed in a Tu’ralotian warriors uniform like mine, with the full armor including a helmet that covers the wearers face.
“What is going on?” I hear Reia whisper. The same question passes through my mind as I ponder why a Tu’ralotian warrior stands with two Malkree. The warriors gaze falls on me as it raises its hand and motions for the Malkree to attack.
Dashing back to avoid the attack I reply to Reia, “Guess that answers our question.” Reia pushes Chris and Amanda aside avoiding the attack of the second Malkree. “Reia I left Shetiga in Chris’ car. I’m going to need it if we want to stop theses two.” I yell as I jump about dodging the fists of the Malkree. Reia lands a solid swing of her staff on the back of the second Malkree in an attempt to draw its attention away from Chris and Amanda as she asks, “How do you propose we get it? There are two of them and two of us.”
Thinking quickly I recall the battle on the outskirts of Gavleck when Bishop, Lilith, Reia, and I fought the Yeohalve.
***
“Zero watch your flank!” Lilith warns as I turn only to be wiped from my feet and land several yards away. Getting to my elbows I moan, “Ohh that hurt. Couldn’t warn me a few seconds earlier?” Lilith ducks under a tentacle and laughs in reply, “Well you should keep your head in the battle, not trying to show off.” Lilith tosses a ball of energy hitting an on coming tentacle freezing it instantly. With only her hand she blocks the attack causing the tentacle to shatter in an explosion of ice shards. Shaking my head I reply, “And what do you call that? Show off!”
Bishop decides to remind, “Hey if you guys are having fun might I remind you that we ain’t getting anywhere with this Yeohalve.” Dashing to the center I hack away at the continuous stream of tentacles protruding from the Yeohalves body only to be thrown back again as more sprout where the others were lost. Again on my elbows I speak, “Bishop you’re a real killjoy, you know that?” Reia yells as she concentrates her power forming a wall of water, “Hey take cover!” Dashing the four of us hide behind the barrier of liquid.
Bishop announces his plan as we collect our breath, “Zero if we can get around to the back of this thing we could take it out. It looks like there aren’t any tentacles there.” Shaking my head I ask, “And how do you propose we get there with out it either grabbing us or simply turning around?” Lilith throws her hat in the ring, “Leave that to Reia and I. We can direct it attention towards us. You use the water wall as cover to move around it.” Reia still concentrating to keep the Yeohalve at bay grumbles, “If you guys have a plan please get moving I’m not going to be able to keep this wall up forever.” With a plan now formulated we break and put it into motion.
Just as Lilith said she and Reia kept the Yeohalves attention as Bishop and I moved around it and took the beast from behind. Falling quickly after we struck its weak point we stood victorious over the Yeohalve as Lilith jokes, “Well that wasn’t too hard.”
***
“Reia. Gavleck and the Yeohalve.” I yell as I avoid yet another attack from the Malkree and continue, “You know what to do.” Immediately Reia summons a vortex of wind drawing the gaze of the Malkree. With Chris and Amanda safe behind her and the vortex Reia signals me, “Go!” and I rush toward Chris’ car. Several yards later I leap forward launching myself into the air, landing with a thud more than a football field away and only a short sprint from the car. Running to the passenger side I pull on the handle only to find it locked. “Of all the time I’ve known you Chris and this happens to be the only time I remember you ever locking your door during the day.” I angrily laugh.
Hearing Reias yell in the distance I begin the concentrate my power through my Strength Shard. Feeling the energy surge through me I yell as the power arcs across my body like lightning. Once at my limit I smile and apologize, “Sorry Chris but I need Shetiga.” Punching through the door panel I grip the framework and pull, tearing the door off and part of the fender along with it. Tossing the door aside like garbage I grab Shetiga and return to the battle being waged in the park.
Stopping as I enter the clearing I see the Malkree moving in against Reias vortex inching closer to them. Lowering my head I begin to concentrate my energy again. Drawing Shetiga from its sheath I raise my face to the sky and scream as my power flows through my Fire Shard and into Shetiga causing it to ignite, dashing past the Malkree I drag Shetigas fiery blade through their bodies. Screaming for only a moment the Malkree burst into flames, their bodies are reduced to ash seconds later. “Holy shit.” Chris mutters at the sight.
“Are you alright?” I ask surveying the three huddled together. Reia nods in answer before we hear the voice of the third traveler from Nosis, “Well done Old Man. I see you haven’t lost your touch.” Turning I address the figure in the Tu’ralotian warriors uniform, “There is only one person who calls me by that name.” Lifting his hand the warrior removes the helmet from his head. Black hair falls before his face as he drops the helmet to the ground, “Saren!” I fume as he raises his face into view.
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