The Battle With Nostramos

 

Ares arrived at the entrance of the golden forest; jumping off his horse he jumped to the ground to feel the earth. He could feel human and orc footprints in the ground leading into the forest.

 

He knew they had gotten permission to cross through the forest, and with or without their permission he would follow them. Getting back on his horse he entered the forest in pursuit, knowing full well that sentries would spot him.

 

The horse was his eyes as he rode, the trampling of the horse resounded

throughout the forest.

 

He smiled as he heard two sentries come upon the path, swords drawn they stopped his horse. The lead guard said, “ Ares, you were warned never to enter this forest again, leave now or we shall imprison you”           

 

Ares nodded and replied, “ no, get out of my way or I will kill you both with your boots and keep them for myself”

 

Both elves laughed knowing Ares was blind by his white eyes, the lead elf motioned for the other elf to get him as he waited. Ares did a back flip from his horse, landing behind his horse he motioned for the elf to come forward.

 

He went up sword drawn, not expecting much of a resistance, when he grabbed his wrists Ares flipped him over, pulling his boots off he whipped his temples with them, using so much force that they caved in on themselves.

 

As the elf fell the other elf went into action, throwing his sword hoping to get Ares unawares. Lifting the elvish boot the sword dug in the boot, barely an inch from his face.

 

Turning the boot around he grabbed the hilt and threw the sword like a spear, the tip of the sword entering his forehead, boot still on the blade. As the second elf died he stood motionless just to make sure no one crept in from behind him, certain no one was there he bent down and took the lead elf’s boots off.

 

They fit perfectly, not only being more comfortable but also having the advantage of being silent even when running. Also replacing his armour with the elf patrol armour and taking an extra sword he said, “Thank you for the gifts and your hospitality”, getting on his horse he continued the hunt for Adonis.

 

They had departed from the beautiful golden forest and had been riding for a day, heading for the forbidden mines of Tura-Lina at a slow yet steady pace. There they would find another hybrid demon, Gomlin.

No one dared getting in the way of the large army, most people not wanting to needlessly sacrifice their lives.

The whole army had been re-armed with the finest elf weapons and armour, forged by the precious metals only found in the golden forest they were the only ones with such weaponry.

 

Dominic rode ahead of the group, he had not done like the others and still had his scimitar of dark elf origins and his Emporial Conqueror armour, he did not even polish his armour, it had kept him alive through thick and thin and was enchanted by spells from the shamans of mount Kilopi.

The mines were far away, over 150 leagues away as the crow flies. But an aspect even more daunting that the distance itself was the fact they would be forced to traverse through the badlands of Nostramos, a place of great peril even for the mightiest warrior.

 

A land consisting of fire pits that spat deadly spirals of intense flames. Toxic air filled this place, leaving it in a permanent green fog.

Cyranos ran beside Dominic, his fat rocking forth back and fourth like the hand of a grandfather clock. Dominic ignored him as he jumped on his horse, Cyranos asked, “Does Dominic think he has a spell that can turn moi, Cyranos back into my glorious elf form?”

 

Dominic sighed, he replied in an annoyed tone, “of course I know a spell, but I sure as hell wouldn’t share it with you. You were a funny elf but you broke the law established by the first Senate of elves.”

It was Cyranos’ turn to sigh in annoyance, he retorted, “Dominic is talking about the first Senate of elves as though I had no part in it, I complained greatly against that law. And anyway, what is so grave about killing one stray human. Its not like we owe them, I was next to the throne after all, I would have been King.”

 

Dominic stifled a laugh and said, “And you wonder why you’re a gibbering cat, if you had changed your attitude in the least you could have maybe been changed. While a royal elf is stuck in the form of an elf dirtying litter boxes a human is going to save the world.”

From behind there was a yell that was familiar and yet very different “valid point Dominic, but your wrong nonetheless”

Dominic turned and seen from afar Ares, but he seemed very different from the last time they had met.

 

Tyronis met him half way, as surprised to see him as he was he was even more surprised to find out he was blind. Tyronis exclaimed, “ What has happened brother! Why are you blind?”

 

Ares smiled showing his bright teeth and answered, “ I no longer have any demon inside of me, Krale took away my powers but he was unaware of my prior form, as were all of us. I am neither dead nor alive and the fact I was blind permitted me to hear the enemies ahead. Suddenly Dominic yelled, “avians! Draw your weapons soldiers!”

There were at least 50 of them, hard to distinguish from the green mist. They had human bodies with feathers instead of skin and a beak, all topped off with feathery wings.

 

Dominic jumped into the air from his horse landing on the nearest avian, he killed him and as used to cushion his fall. Slicing it in half he didn’t even wait a second and yelled “ incinirious” Suddenly all the jets of flames were under his control, as the avians came to attack a barrage of fireballs were hitting them.

The battle had officially begun, fire launching and hitting the avians. The arrows from the archers joined into the equation, some being incinerated but the ones who did reach their targets entered into the avians heads, knocking them out of the sky followed by a stream of blood.

 

Adonis was barely defending himself they were coming from everywhere. Suddenly one of the grabbed him by the collar, making a high-pitched noise it went to stab him. It stopped in mid strike, emitting a blood-curdling scream as a blade emerged out of its mouth.

As it fell Ares stood there, Adonis had wanted to kill him for such a long time and yet Ares had saved his life.

Ares said, “ I need you alive, so stay alive!” He went into action, his swords weaving through the air majestically as he cut through avian after avian, blood covering his corpse white body.

 

Suddenly there was a loud yell, “Stand aside avians!” all the avians moved to the side, in the middle of them appeared their leader, Nostramos the giant one-eyed ogre.

He stood a whole 12 feet tall, pure muscles and malice was what best described this monstrous ogre. Kulos yelled, “ cease attacking!”

 

Both armies faced each other, as Kulos stood his two cave trolls came beside him. Even they seemed small compared to the one-eyed ogre, Nostramos said, “ I want to battle Ares, we have a score to settle. If he wins I will call my avians off, if I win we kill you all”

Before anyone could reply Ares walked up two swords on his back and said, “ I got a better deal, either you move your men off and leave us alone or I will stab your eye out and kill you with your low intelligence”

Nostramos took out his giant club and hollered, “Bring it on Ares the demon! I can kill even you”

Ares smiled and replied, “ well then your behind on the news, I am no demon”

He jumped into action, pulling his swords out he began his tricky tactics. Just ducking one crushing blow he jumped on his arm stabbing deep he ran along his arm until he reached his shoulder blade.

The ogre reached for him with his other arm, Ares simply jumped off the shoulder and landed on the top of his hand.

The ogre hit himself; having to regain his balance Ares stabbed into his other arm, slicing his wrists deeply they began to pour blood.

 

Ares showered in the ogre blood, drinking some he looked up with renewed energy and dived straight for his eye. The ogre raised his arm and went to slap him away, Ares was too fast however, points facing upward they dug straight in his eye.

Now lodged in his eye, the ogre could not hit him in fear of hurting himself and tried to shake him off, but nothing but a powerful earthquake would do that.

 

He separated the swords, slicing through his eye horizontally. The ogre howled in pain, his brain began to leak fluids as the swords punctured through the skin that protected it.

Acting as a corrosive acid the brain liquids began to burn his insides, the smell of burnt flesh overcame the sulphur and brimstone, Ares jumped off and watched his tactics pay off.

 

The ogre fell to his knees, his skin was steaming, burning from the inside. As his thick bones began to transform into mush his legs gave in. The ogre was finally dead, everyone was in shock that Ares had won. There was a long pause, no one certain what to do. Suddenly the avian nest was on fire, all the avians turned and Ares yelled “ Dominic, incinerate them!”

Dominic raised his arms, a whole wave of flames formed, heading toward the army of avians. They never even seen their deaths, burning in less than a second the battle was finally over.

 

All the soldiers cheered, all but Kulos and Ares. Dominic frowned in curiosity as Ares took out five empty casks and filled them with ogre blood. He asked, “What in the blazing infernos are you doing?”

Without turning Ares replied, “ ogre blood gives incredible power, if you have any empty barrels in those wagons I recommend you fill them with this blood, it will come in handy later”

 

Suddenly Aldan walked in behind him, Ares let him put the blade to the back of his neck and asked, “ you going to kill me now? I bet its what you would like to do the most right now, do it if you dare. Now that you challenged me you have to do it, if not I will have to do you in.”

Ares turned and smiled mockingly, raising his hands he said, “ your move” In response Aldan stabbed Ares in the head. However he had not used enough force and the blade broke upon impact, shards flying all over leaving him with a broken sword. Ares grabbed the sword from his hand and said, “ogre blood makes one stronger and tougher against weapons. Last lesson of your life” He stabbed the broken sword in his head; blood began to pool out of his head as he fell to the ground.

 

Celestria was appalled at this, she ran up to Ares and said, “revenge is not the way! You killed him because of the deception that led to your death?”

Ares smiled and replied smartly, “No, don’t be absurd. My death was the best thing that ever happened to me. I killed him because he challenged me, I killed him because I could and therefore I did. Now you command the elite archers, your word can either save them or doom them”