Zanarda, a world corrupted by evil

Zanarda - The Dark Fortress

"You must join him, he is too powerful to overcome. you must join him! I will not let you do this!" said Dugal.
"He is all together evil! I will not join him if it risks our friendship. He has already ensnared your mind. Look at you! You were once a fair sight, but now just the presence of you makes me hurl!" said Lord Grom, a local legend in the town of Spiradel.
"Then you choose the wrong path, consider this friendship broken!" said the angry and frustrated Dugal as he left the Inn into the stormy night.
"He means nothing to me." said Lord Grom as he got up from the table and went upstairs to his room.
~+~
The morning turned out to be a better day. It was sunny and not a cloud could be seen above the town. Many merchants were in the local bazaar getting ready for the busy hours. Everyone was to work, blacksmiths, mages, adventurers were getting ready.
But a new thing was in the town square today. Lord Grom was searching around for adventurers speaking to them. He was with four others. Lord Tyr, a powerful enchanter known around the world. Lady Alandriel, a student in magic but a warrior in heart. Lord Shank, who is known for his sudden rise in power and the monsters that were slain were things unimaginable. And finally, Illuvator. A mysterious figure that is hardly ever seen. No one knows much about him and the ones who do know are afraid to find his knives in their backs if they say something.
"Well here we are, five adventurers ready to kill the horrible evil in the dark forest." said Lord Grom.
The "evil" that he speaks about is a dark lord. Who is a threatening sight to see, that is if you can see, for the dark lord sucks the light around him creating a strange dark. A shadow like no other. He has other minions with him, too many to count. They say he creates these creatures by corrupting others in his underground fortress that can be found deep in the forest.
�Let us be off, this town is beginning to bore me.� said the strange figure in the corner.
�Fine then, but first we must find our path.� Said Lord Grom taking out his map. He began debating with the others the path they should take. But Illuvator waited in the corner. After a few minutes of talking the five of them left the east gates of the town toward the forest wall.
This forest was strange. The tree were shorter then most but still tall and very wide in girth. The forest edge was completely covered in vines and bushes letting nothing enter. And it�s roof was thick so that no light shined through. Another strange feature to this forest is that it has one entrance with a road that goes to the east gate of the town. The entrance is a wall of shadow and those who go through disappear never come out again.
The group stood in front of the entrance deciding if they really want to go through with the quest. �Well if you are true hearted, you may enter. But if you are a coward leave now!� said Lord Grom. Everyone entered.
Everything turned dark. Fortunately Lord Tyr had a staff of light and it lit up the area around him. Many eyes glared at them from every direction. Behind them the entrance disappeared. �The entrance is gone then, we must face the long dark of the forest.� Said Lord Tyr solemnly.
They walked slowly always at the ready with their weapons. Illuvator on the other hand didn�t and he slowly went ahead of the group and was out of view from Lord Tyr�s light. Many hours they walked until they assumed the sky above the forest roof was dark and they decided to make camp. They tried hard to make fire but was unsuccessful. Lord Tyr offered to use his staff for light until they sleep. Illuvator was never seen.
�Maybe we shouldn�t trust him, he�s a little shifty.� said Lady Alandriel.
�I don�t trust him at all.� said Lord Shank �He is a bit odd�
�Well I don�t think he is going to be back soon. He is probably lost.� said Lord Grom as they all laughed.
�You are the one�s that are lost. You strolled off the path a few hours ago.� said a familiar voice from above in the trees. Lord Shank and Lord Grom drew their sword while Lord Tyr readied his staff and Lady Alandriel had her bow knotted. �Who are you!? Show yourself!� commanded Lord Grom.
�It�s me you bafoons.� Said the figure as he jumped down from the branches as he revealed himself as Illuvator. �Can�t you recognize a friend.�
�You�re no friend.� said Lord Tyr fiercely.
�Where were you?� said Lady Alandriel eagerly.
�Oh I was in a council with the dark lord trying to find a way to kill you all.� said Illuvator sarcastically. �I was clearing the way for you, lot�s of wolves around.�
�Stay with us, don�t get too far.� Said Lord Grom.
�Oh don�t worry, I�ll make sure you guys don�t get lost.� Said Illuvator smiling. He then jumped off into the trees.
~+~
The next morning was still dark and Illuvator was leaning on a tree waiting for the group members to wake.
�My, you all probably got a good sleep.� said Illuvator when everyone was awake. �Since you went off the path in the wrong direction we will head northward, cross the path and go back into the bushes for cover, no doubt our presence is known and the path will be watched. Once we hit the river we will head east again towards the lake and from there we will be able to get into his fortress unknown.�
�But what about breakfast!� said Lady Alandriel hold her stomach. �Surely you need to eat too! You probably ate nothing last night.�
Illuvator ignored this and led the group on. The way that he led the group was much overgrown by weeds and vines. Lady Alandriel complained about all her scrapes and cuts but everyone ignored her once again.
Two hours passed until they reached the path they were suppose to take. They all went across unnoticed. Everyone was surprised with their speed and happy with the way Illuvator took them. Five hours later they reached the river and saw sunlight coming through the overhanging branches. Farther north the peaks of mountains could be seen, but they were too faint to admire. Here they made rest and restocked on water.
�From here we shall go east till we reach the lake.� Said Illuvator
�And how long will that take?� said Lady Alandriel.
�One day, and please do not complain.� Said Illuvator but Lady Alandriel whined and complained all day till her throat got sore.
Many hours passed and eventually the sun faded away. They walked through the rest of the night in total silence. They hardly made any sounds walking on the dry leaves. The animals were far off afraid to be caught and eaten for a midnight snack. Then finally after long hours they came to an opening in the trees and they came upon an amazingly large lake and alone in the center a single island, very small sat alone in the water.
�Here it is, the fortress entrance.� Said Illuvator
�Where is this `entrance`.� said Lord Grom.
�It is on that island.� Said Illuvator pointing to the island as the sun peeked over the mountains.
�How do you know so much about this place?� said Lady Alandriel curiously.
�He is probably in league with the dark lord!� said Lord Tyr
�Shh! We do not want to be heard, and how do you know so much about this place anyway?� said Lord Shank.
�I grew up here.� said Illuvator, then there was a long pause. �We shall swim to the island for any sign of boats will be destroyed. If you have any food eat it now, any blankets cast it away. We will not have any more sleep for a long while. But for now we rest, by tomorrow morning we go to the island.�
No one seemed to have any reason to argue with his plan and they all fell asleep while Illuvator stayed awake. Long in the night Lord Grom was moving around unable to sleep. He finally got up and sat down with Illuvator.
�You should get some rest.� said Illuvator calmly.
�I can�t sleep, too many thoughts in my mind.� said Grom. �Who are you anyway? I can�t believe I just let you come with us and not ask for your name.�
�I am known as Illuvator. People that know me call me Illu.� Said Illu
�Ahh! Something is known to me about you now. Tell me more, you seem like a mysterious fellow.� Said Grom curiously.
�I don�t know much about myself. The only thing I remember from my childhood is when I was found in front of an Inn. They said I had many cuts and bruises. I was also abnormal. I was an outcast, that�s why I live my life now as a rogue.�
�How are you unnormal? You seem normal to me, except for the mysterious feel about you.� said Grom.
�Are you interrogating me?� said Illuvator rather taken aback.
�No, not at all. I was just curious.� said Grom.
�Well if you really want to know�� said Illuvator as hew pulled back his hood.
�Y-y-your and elf!� said Grom surprised.
�Please do not tell the others! And watch your voice! You may draw some of his minions.�
�Sorry, it�s just I can�t believe your en elf! Is it true that you live long and forever?� said Grom suddenly excited.
�I lived many years, thousands I suppose. But living long isn�t the best�� said Illuvator
�What do you mean? It has to be! I mean seeing everything through-out your life!� said Grom trying to prove his point.
�Living is starting to bore me. You should get some sleep we have a long day tomorrow.� Said Illuvator and Grom went to his resting spot and fell asleep with no problem.
~+~
Early in the morning the group woke up to a wonderful smell. Illuvator was cooking meat on a fire. He offered to share it and no body bothered to ask how he got a fire going.
�OHHH!!! This is so good! What is this, rabbit?� asked Lord Shank
�No it�s the emat of a wolf that tried to eat you last night, notice the drool on you cloak?� said Illuvator smiling as he pointed to the pile of a gross slime on his cloak lying on the ground.
�NO!� yelled Shank panicking. Everyone began to laugh not noticing that Illuvator was laughing with them.
That morning they ate well and had good laughs but when the talk came to the subject of the dark lord everyone became serious. They were to swim nearly a kilometer to the island and should still have enough strength to fight the dark lord and all his minions.
�It would be impossible.� said Tyr.
�Well we won�t really know till we try, get ready now, we will be leaving in a few minutes.� said Illuvator. Everyone immediately packed their stuff with their new found strength.
�Wow that wolf meat is really healthy� said Grom.
Slowly they walked into the water and began to swim. It was unusually cold but they had extra clothing so it didn�t seem too much a problem. Illuvator swam ahead occasionally diving deeper to check if any of the dark lords spies have come out some secret passage. They began to slow down a little more then half way through and they eventually began to start treading water. Illuvator urged them on and helped them.
The island seems much bigger then it looked from the shore. It was a very steep hill with a sharp top. It had little signs of life except for a few bushes and small trees. There was no sand, only jagged rocks. When they got their they took a few minutes to rest holding on to the rocks as Illuvator searched around for an easy way to climb
�It will be hard but this way seems the easiest.� Said Illuvator as he pointed out where the holds will be to climb up.
�Wow I guess you�re a use for something.� said Lord Tyr gasping for air, he didn�t accept any help from Illuvator during the swim. Illuvator ignored this and helped the others get up, then he helped himself leaving Tyr clinging on a rock. The rest of the group sat down waiting for him to get up. They got their strength back while Tyr struggled to get up just to find another rock face.
�After this the entrance will be in front of you. Be careful!� said Illuvator in a whisper. In a swift move he swung up to the top. The rest of the group members could hear the noise of a sword fight.
�Are you OK up there Illu?� said Grom as Tyr got up the rock face just to find another one.
�Fine! Just a couple of zombies.� said Illuvator as he cast down a rope for the group members. As expected Tyr came last still having a struggle even if there was a rope that was there to help him.
When Tyr got up the group circled around a single pillar. �When you touch this, you will teleport to the fortress.� said Illuvator.
�Everyone ready?� said Grom as everyone drew their weapons. Everyone was ready to touch the stone. �NOW!� yelled Lord Grom and they all disappeared and were never seen again on that world.

�I�m a little dizzy�� said Lord Tyr.
�Where are we?� asked Alandriel
�In the lightless dark, any light containing object will be no more use here.� Said Illuvator.
�Which way do we go?� said Lord Grom stepping on Tyr�s toes.
�Come to my voice.� Said Illuvator and everyone came and held on to him. �From ehre we go east.�
�Which way is east?� asked Tyr.
�Fine follow me, don�t get lost.� said Illuvator. They all walked slowly eastward in the complete darkness. It was strange, it felt like they were standing in something but there was no sign of any texture of the floor or any light, it was complete black.
They soon came to a halt after about an hour of walking. �We are at the gates of the first chamber. There should be some light inside.� said Illuvator as he picklocked at the lock of the gate It suddenly opened and light filled the area. A huge rectangular room was before them. Everything was black though, but there were torches on all the walls. In the center a large stone box lied down. Across the room was another large gate.
�What is this place..AGH!� yelled Alandriel as she stepped on some slippery slime.
�This place is...is� a tomb!� cried Grom as he look at the box. Suddenly there was a strange moaning coming from behind them.
�ZOMBIES!!!� yelled Shank as he sliced ones head off with his sword. But soon another one replaced and the room began to fill with the gruesome creatures. Everyone took out their weapons and started slaying the zombies.
�Will they never stop coming in?� gasped Alandriel as she shot four arrows at once.
�NO!� yelled Illuvator across the room. The zombies filled the room and the adventurers were sent to the corners. But Tyr still held his staff in the center killing many of the zombies.
�TYR!� yelled Shank.
�Im OK! Just get your bloody sword here and help-� cried Tyr. But then the box, or coffin burst into pieces as a gigantic green slime creature standing nearly ten feet in height grabbed Tyr. �HELP!�
Illuvator sliced through the zombies and eventually got to what is known as, the Zombie Ravager. He tried his best to kill it but wherever he could reach was just slime, he needed to get to the head.
�Alandriel! Shoot the head!� Yelled Illuvator as she quickly shot two arrows into the head of the monster and also managed to take out her knives and slice a few more zombies. The Ravager on the other hand moaned but did not get too much effect by the arrows. The Ravager took the arrows and threw them back(killing other zombies).
Illuvator ran to the backside of the monster and signaled to Shank. Who got up on Illuvator and jumped onto the monster slicing his head off. The enormous head fell with a large `thud` as his rest of the slimy body melted slowly into the box and disappeared.
�Oh no.� said Alandriel as she went up to Tyr when the final zombie was dead. �He�s dead!�
�He was a good warrior and wizard. May all the grace of Ardakind be with him.� said Grom as they all bowed their heads in silence for a minute.
�We must continue on, more of the zombies will be here soon.� said Illuvator as they all slowly went to the next gate. When they opened it, it crumbled into ash as it revealed a large chamber a mile in height and many miles in width and length. Huge pillars with many engraving stood tall and thick. There was a hole between all the pillars which everyone took notice to.
�The Dark Lord should be to our right. If there is an outside, it would be very dark. I don�t think many of us will ever see it again.� said Illuvator bowing his head in shame. �Do not lose hope, we can still beat him.� said Alandriel. Then they all silently walked to the right as Illuvator said slowly.
Everyone had their weapons ready in case something would come up. Many hours they walked, too many to count. Illuvator said they almost have been in the grand hall for almost a day. But when they began to think the hall would never end they saw a wall. In the center of the wall a large carving of a spider was deeply engraved. And a small wooden gate reinforced with steel bars stood under it.
�Finally! I would think my legs will collapse!� cried Alandriel.
�What is that say?� asked Shank.
�It�s a picture of a spider can�t you see?� laughed Grom.
�No those runes below them. On top of the gate.� said Shank pointing to them.
Suddenly Illuvator was serious and began to read aloud the runes. �All who bring light will die by the spider�s bite.�
�That isn�t good.� said Alandriel knotting her bow. Then at that moment color came to the drawing of the spider, and slowly is began so morph out of the wall.
�This isn�t either!� yelled Shank as he backed away holding tight onto his sword. The spider came out of the wall landing as it cracked the ground and shook the roof. It was hue, twenty feet tall and thirty feet long. �Alandriel get shoot your arrows!� commanded Shank.
�It�s my last one I have to save it.� Protested Alandriel.
�Shoot it!� Shank yelled back. But Alandriel didn�t. She wouldn�t until she knew a fatal place to hit. The spider�s eyes glowed read and the hair on its back rose as it opened its mouth showings it�s fangs.
They all ran backward as the spider chased after them with amazing speed, then it disappeared.
�Where is it?� gasped Alandriel as suddenly the lights went out.
�Keep on your guard, let�s go back to the gate.� sighed Illuvator. Then very slowly they walked back the direction they came from listening to their footsteps and breaths. It was colder now, they all ahd a feeling of eyes watching them in every direction. They occasionally heard noises from above, they suspected it was the holes.
�Here it is.� whispered Illuvator as he felt at the gate. �Everyone here?�
�I�m here� answered Shank.
�I�m here too.� said Grom as he stepped forward from lagging behind.
�Alandriel?� said the confused Illuvator. �Alandriel!?�
Illuvator started panic and felt dizzy. He almost began to faint when the voice of Alandriel reassured him.
�What? Sorry I just lagged behind.� said Alandriel confused.
�Well try not to.� said Illuvator. Then as Illuvator began to pick at the gate lock the spider snatched Shank, light came back to the hall.
�Die you devil!� yelled Shank as he stabbed at the spider�s face and was thrown against the wall. At that same time Grom dived under the spider and stabbed it�s belly, the spider�s eys flickered red.
�Alandriel, shoot it�s eyes!� yelled Illuvator
�I can�t it keeps moving!� cried Alandriel as she tried to aim at the spider. Grom was then crushed under the spider as it fell when Illuvator stabbed the Spider�s face from below the head. It moaned with pain and fell. Alandriel took the opportunity and shot the eyes. The spider was sent into flames and was burned to ash. Grom dug his way out.
�That has got to be the most foul smell ever!� said Grom as he wiped his nose of the disgusting slime. Illuvator began to pick at the lock again, this time it took him longer. When he opened the gate they were consumed in darkness. Everything went dark again, and very warm.
�Take these.� said Illuvator handing them amulets. �Put them on it will bring you light.�
When they put them on light burst from the amulets and illuminated the long wide hallway, a little larger then the room where the Ravager was. The walls were a polichsed black with many decorative linings. The floor was a dark gold, and if there was a roof, it would be too high to see.
�The last hall.� whispered Illuvator. �The Dark Lord will be past that gate.� He pointed to the gate at the end of the hall. A great steel gate with many spikes. The lining around it was made of a glimmering gold. It stood nearly fifteen feet tall.
They walked at a normal pace eager to see and destroy the Dark Lord. They were two feet away from the pointed spikes when a man materialized in front of them. He wore a dark cloak with his black hood covering his eyes. He simply said. �Hello.�
�Who are you, show yourself!� yelled Shank as he drew his sword and pointed it at the man�s neck. But then the man drew his sword from under his robes and threw Shank�s sword far away. He then took off his hood to show his disgusting face.
�Dugal.� said Lord Grom grimly.
�Ha! Yes it is me, and I�m ordered by the Dark Lord himself to destroy each and every one of you and I suspect it will be very easy.�
�You wish.� said Shank taking back his sword.
�You guys go ahead, I�ll take care of Dugal.� said Grom.
�Grom, NO!� said Alandriel protesting.
�We should go, Grom will take care of it.� said Illuvator reassuring Alandriel as they all ran past Dugal. Grom unsheathed his sword, Narn it was named, after his father. A fierce warrior that destroyed many great monsters before.
Dugal laughed. �Finally I can kill you. You know, I was never your friend. Ever since the day I met you as a child I hated you and all of your family�s blood. So I killed them all. But you were not so easy. You became a great warrior just like your father. And today you shall die just like him!� Then they both set their sword tips on the ground and began to circle the room, a warrior�s ritual.
�I never should have trusted you!� said Grom as he tried to cut him but Dugal blocked it and they began to circle again. �You killed my mother!� another failed attempt, �My father!� this time he managed to get a little cut on Dugal�s face. �And my brother!� and Grom sent Dugal to the floor with his sword. Then Grom pointed his sword to Dugal�s throat. �You will pay for your ignorance!�
Dugal was dead. He lied down motionless as his blood emptied his body. Grom looked up to the spiked gate, but it disappeared. It was not there anymore, nor was his friends. Dugal also then disappeared. The door opened behind him, he looked back to see hundreds of creatures flooding the room. Huge spiders, big ones the size of a human head, and zombies. Lot�s of them slowly came in. That was the only way out.
�AWWWW &%$!� yelled Grom as he charged forward with Narn and fought an endless battle.
~+~
Illuvator, Shank, and Alandriel stepped into the door, then it disappeared behind them. They were now in the foyer of the thrown room. It was very bright and all it�s walls were gold. In front of them, though, was a large rock wall. And in the center of this wall was a larger gateway then the last one, but this one has not gate. Instead it was a sheer black face. Around it was a design of many lines with sharp turns and going in zigzags. And the rest of the wall was covered with man skulls morphed into the wall, they looked like they were trying to get out.
They then entered the black face and found themselves in a cave with a smooth floor. �This should be the throne room.� said Illuvator in the cavernous room. �There is no exit in here.�
�Then this is the end of us.� said Shank.
�I fear it is so.� said Illuvator in dismay. They all took one step forward and far ahead there was a huge chair. It had a large marble smooth side on where someone sat. And it was armored with many spikes and skulls.
�W-w-where i-i-is h-h-he?� said Alandriel quivering with feer.
�Right here.� said a hushed voice from behind Alandriel.
�WHERE!?� screamed Alandriel as she looked around.
�Right HERE!� said the voice as a dark body with steel gauntlets from in front of them and great steel hands came from behind him and wrapped around the body like armor. Then great black wings with steel spikes at it�s tips sprang from the body like a bird launching to fly.
�I know what you come here for. To kill me.� said the Dark Lord as he flew up and the gigantic cave lit up with many torches. The Dark Lord flew to his throe and sat down. Suddenly the three adventurers were sent gliding to him at a record breaking speed.
�You should know that you can�t kill me. But I can kill you. Now who should I kill� said the Dark Lord as he used his power to separate them leaving three metres between each of them. the Dark Lord laughed.
�Eeny Meeny Miney Moe.� said the Dark Lord as he paused to laugh some more. �Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers let him go.� he then used his power to squeeze Shank with nothing. Shank screamed and fainted.
�Eeny� he pointed to Illuvator. �Meeny� he pointed to Alandriel. �Miney MOE!� he yelled pointing to Alandriel when a huge bolt of lighting burst from his finger towards Alandriel as she fell to her death.
�MURDERER!� yelled Illuvator.
�Of course I am, it�s my job!� he said laughing to himself. �Now I just want a little bit of action.� He walked towards Shank shrinking down to human size. The Dark Lord picked up Shank and threw him towards the throne, which became a sheer wall with many hooks. Shank just missed these hooks with a couple of scrapes and he hung there bleeding.
�Oh! This is just too fun.� said the Dark Lord. He put Illuvator into a stone chair and forced him to watch. Three knives magically sprung from the tips of his fingers. He threw one aiming for Shank.
�Darn so close!� said the Dark Lord sarcastically when he hit Shank�s left ear cutting it a bit. He threw another one. This time it hit the right side of his neck also making a small cut. Shank still hung there lifeless.
Illuvator tried to speak but he couldn�t. Somehow the Dark Lord�s powers stopped him from speaking. �This time I�ll hit him.� said the Dark lord as he threw the last knife hitting Shank�s chest, killing him instantly.
�YOU DEVIL!� yelled Illuvator when he was allowed to speak.
�Dark Lord? Yes, Devil? No. There is a difference mind you.� said the Dark lord. He then burst into laughter and sending him onto his back. Illuvator took this opportunity to strike him. He quickly drew his sword and hit the red jewel on the Dark Lord�s helm. The jewel exploded destroying all of the Dark Lord�s armor and sending his sword far away. Illuvator was pushed back in the explosion and thrown into the air.
�You!� said the shadow that once was a great Dark Lord. �You will pay for this, I will KILL YOU!� and he started to chase after Illuvator as he summoned his sword back into his hands. Illuvator sprang quickly towards a black shape far away in the distance of the wall.
�It wasn�t there before.� Illuvator thought to himself as he pushed himself faster.
�Come back here!� yelled the Dark Lord in his rage. He suddenly stopped and he pt his hand forward. �You will fall into shadow!� said the Dark Lord when dark tentacles of black sprouted from his fingers and thrusted towards Illuvator. The tentacles wrapped around Illuvator just as he got to the hole.
Illuvator cut the tentacles and they fell to the floor in ashes. �Eat sword!� he said while cutting more tentacles. But the Dark Lord grew back into a large size and began chasing him at great speed. �He couldn�t possibly fit in this gate� thought Illuvator. He then sprang inside and found it was a stair. A very big spiral stair. He began to go up.
The Dark Lord burst through the hold and began going up and up destroying the stairs beneath his feet. �Get DOWN HERE!� he yelled and yelled but Illuvator was too fast and just the right size to get up easily.
The stairs never stopped, it kept going on. Illuvator though it would never end. They carried on forever going up, or it seemed like forever to Illuvator. Then finally just when Illuvator was about to lose hope and turn back to fight the dark lord, the spiral stars opened up to a small chamber. Illuvator stopped in the center of the chamber staring at the blue gate in front of him.
�I hope this leads outside.� thought Illuvator. He took out his picklock and started unlocking the door. The Dark lord came ever closer to the opening.
�You will die!� yelled the Dark lord as he just go to the opening and looked around in wonderment. �Where did this place come from?� he said to himself. Illuvator opened the door too afraid to look back and he ran outside. He closed his eyes and felt a freezing coolness touch his face. It wasn�t and evil cold but a sense of refreshment.
�Get over here!� yelled the Dark Lord and he came to the door trying to burst through and catch Illuvator at the same time. Illuvator looked for someway to get out of the area, he found stairs, they were made of stone but covered with ice and snow. He had a hard time getting up without sliding. When he got up to the top he came to a small opening, a circle, but with now snow on it. Many pillars with decorative carvings circled a small platform in the center.
�So there is no way out.� sighed Illuvator looking back suddenly to see the Dark Lord charging at him. �Get back you devil!�
The Dark lord roared with fury and many lightning bolt came down on them creating small fires. Illuvator held his sword ready pointing it upwards. �You will pay for the death of my friends!�
�You choose to die!� said the Dark Lord as he took up his sword ready to hit Illuvator. But Illuvator was too quick for him as he stabbed the Dark Lord in the torso. Everything around them paused. All life ceased. �How?� said the Dark Lord as he looked down on Illuvator and slowly cracked. Bright red lines could be seen coming from the wound cracking its way around the Dark Lord�s body. Then everything went blurry and the Dark Lord was destroyed. Illuvator fell back onto the small platform as he was devoured with pain from his arm.
�Help.� Illuvator managed to breath out the word as the platform slowly raised him above the ground and began to glow showing the mark �Z�.
~+~

~The End~

by 'Illu'