Adonis Chronicles

Krale’s Demise

Ares stood upon the old abandoned path he had stood on not so long ago. Dominic beside him said, “ There’s that tree, so I guess we’re in the right place. So what now, you speak the magic words and we bust into Krale’s little base of operations?”

Ares did not hear him at first, his thoughts were going back to the old man in the desert. When he’d been in bed he’d asked, “ How do I get out of phase two? Or is this the final phase?”

The old man had laughed at this, “ Of course its not the final phase, to get out of phase two you must take revenge on someone that has shamed you in your life, you must lead a person to kill them for you, the moment that person dies you will reach phase three.”

Ares frowned, “ That simple? Just exact my revenge on someone that has shamed me, I know just the guy. But what will happen? What will happen in phase three?”

He’d never gotten an answer to that question, finally returning his attention to reality he replied, “ Yes, I must warn you it will not be easy but we cannot use magic or Krale would detect it and send guards to stop us. Follow my lead.”

Pulling out two borrowed elvish swords to replace those melted by the ogre’s acidic fluids he said calmly, “ Toran Pal Tonaros”, just as before the ground began to shake violently. As Dominic looked around fascinated Ares looked into his memory, Ares knew where the entrance was. He knew once Krale was killed the Emperor would simply send someone more powerful in his stead.

The familiar and once comforting scent of brimstone filled their bodies, the steam hissing out of the ground hitting his skin burning slightly but Ares did not feel such pain, he felt no pain. As the dark beam shot out, soundless before it was now an array of an orchestra of low and high pitched noises.

Ares knowing this was the time jumped to the opposing wall, diving the swords into the wall Dominic followed his cue. Both swords digging into the rock he slid down to the entrance, followed by Dominic.

He could sense two demons nearby, pulling two daggers from Dominic’s daggers on his chest he pinpointed their exact locations and threw them in their heads, killing them before they could raise the alarm.

Before continuing he said, “ Dominic, don’t come in with me, wait outside the tent for it is certain Krale will call his demon cohorts once his life is in danger. And for hell’s sake, if Jolene comes don’t stop her from getting in the tent. And drink this ogre blood, you’ll need it”

Dominic agreed silently to this and they walked to Krale’s tent with resistance. As Ares entered the tent Lord Krale was still sitting in his diamond throne, even with his loss of sight Ares recognized the foul scent of his former leader.

Laughing without constraint Krale said tauntingly, “ Ares, have you come as a blind beggar to a noble demon to seek reconciliation, for I have none to offer.”

Ares smiled and replied equally tauntingly, “ Nay, for that to be true there would have to be a noble demon in my presence, and all I sense is you. And I have nothing to reconcile, I have come to kill you.”

Lord Krale was not yet afraid, “ You cannot do what you speak of, you made an oath to me, you cannot break an oath.”

Ares simply retorted, “ Wrong again, you were always quite an idiot. My demon half made an oath, the one you removed from my body also removing the oath I made. I made an oath to no one.” As Krale tried to use his power to torture Ares he could not control his former assassin.

Ares smirked at the failed attempt; swords on his belt he suddenly lurched forward landing hard upon Krale, sending the diamond throne falling on its back to the ground. Ares said cooly, “ The only regret in my life is that I never got to see your face as it grimaced in fear in the final moments of your life. How would you prefer to die, bladed weapon or by my hands, let me decide for you.”

Krale tried to resist, trying to shake Ares off as he was lifted to his feet along with the chair, before he could do anything Ares forced him to sit down and stabbed the swords down in his hands, digging them so deep in the diamond throne he was pinned down completely.

Ares could hear the demon’s heart pulsing rapidly like the war drums of a savage tribe. At this moment Jolene came in the tent armed with her demon slayer sword, “ Get off him Ares, I will not hesitate to kill you.”

Without turning Ares replied, “ Then why are you hesitating?” Remembering where the long samurai sword was on the wall he jumped on the hilt of the sword and launched himself to the wall. Grabbing the sword in mid air she was right behind him, moving in fluent movements her sword came down, smashing into his now raised samurai sword.

Ares rotated around her, his sword at the base of her neck he said, “ Do you want the glory of killing him yourself, don’t you want to see his face? Take care of him and I will be here to back you up.”

Lord Krale yelled out furiously, “ Kill him Jolene! You are my slave! You will obey!” Jolene did not reply to either of them, part of her wanted to obey to Krale but Ares’ words seemed so much better.

Lord Krale yelled out, “ Guards! Get the intruder! You too Jolene! Get him!” Jolene did not move, as the guards began to stir Ares whispered, “ Are you nothing but a slave or are you something more? Make a choice, turn your weapons on me or turn your weapons on him.”

Ares took the blade away from her throat and placed it back on the wall, Jolene walked to Lord Krale. Dominic pulled his scimitar and taking a large gulp of the ogre blood he felt a great surge of power fill him.

There was at least twenty of them, his sword tingled as they charged their magical strike. In less than a second they all fired their detonations, Dominic was sent flying hard against the ground. As the demons cheered Dominic rose to his feet, smoking from the heat of the ferocious barrage of detonations he said, “ Now I send all of you back to hell, enjoy the trip.”

The demons never stood a chance, hacking the first demon’s legs off he stabbed the scimitar into the ground and rotated in the air, using all of the ogre blood enhanced strength he kicked the demons with so much force they died on impact, their diaphragms collapsing upon themselves.

As the first wave of demons fell Dominic pulled the scimitar out and threw it at the last demon, for the other demons had fled at the spectacle of their comrades’ massacre.

Krale squirmed as he tried to escape from his throne, looking weaker and weaker in her eyes. Lord Krale looked into her eyes, seeing that she was done following his orders, she had made her decision.

He invoked the oath punishment, pain drove throughout her body. However, Ares had taught her how to ignore pain, all one had to do was focus on the hate that drove one and the pain then made the person stronger.

She sneered at the presence of the demon and said, “ Time to find out who is under the cloak, and old man perhaps?” She ripped the cloak off, exposing Krale for what he truly was, nothing but an old high ranking common demon. Other than the extra long horns he had nothing special about him nor did he have any more strength than she did, he had far less.

Lord Krale yelled out, “ Guards! Jolene has betrayed us! Kill her!” Dominic walked into the tent, turning back he yelled mockingly, “ Guards, he’s calling you all here.” Waiting a minute he faced Krale and said, “ Looks like your on your own here budzo.”

Ares added, “ I cannot believe I once was forced to serve you, I revered you pure bloods, is Lord Krale as weak as I anticipate him to be?”

Jolene smiled and replied, not taking her eyes of Krale, “ Weaker, he doesn’t even have the mark of the elite demons, simple red eyes. He’s deceived us all these years.”

Sensing his inevitable death Krale began to laugh, “ You fools, I’ve been replaced by someone much more powerful. He managed to lure your brother, he will know everything now, he will end this whole fiasco once and for all.”

Jolene tore his horns out and stabbed them into his eyes; he let out his last breath as his eyes began to breathe, he was dead. The second he died Ares fell to his knees in intense pain, suddenly changing into phase three as the old man had predicted.

The first change was his physical look, as his scars healed his skin changed from the corpse white colour to a smooth chocolate brown colour, black shoulder length dread locks covering his head. Upon his chest the sign of the crescent moon formed, he had changed completely.

His sharp teeth replaced by human teeth his claws became fingers, with that he lost consciousness. Waking up a few minutes later the first biggest change was that his vison had returned, it was as perfect as it had been when he’d had the demon within him.

Ares was glad to have his sight back, plus all his other senses were as sharp as when he’d been blind, and his power had increased yet again. He felt like he had so much power he would erupt like a volcano.

Dominic was the first to talk, “ Ares, what happened to you? Krale died and you just began to change, your completely different.” Ares got to his feet, finding a mirror shield he looked at his reflection. Feeling his new skin Dominic said, “Your skin colour is much better now, and your hair is phenomenal.”

Feeling the mark, it felt like someone had cut his skin and inserted gold into it, he could feel it sticking out. Turning to face Jolene he looked her in the eyes, “ Now we were to bring you back to the others, the prophecy depends on it. But I have a feeling you won’t cooperate, and we won’t make you.”

Dominic added, “ That’s right, we’re not even returning to the group for a long time. Before getting here Ares shared his plans with me and I prefer those over the prophecy.”

Jolene frowned, asking in a confused tone, “ Your not? You don’t care about the world’s survival?”

Ares shrugged, “ You misinterpret it, it said the end of the world as we know it. Let’s just say me and Dominic say it could use an upgrade.” Turning to face the wall he now had many options for his new arsenal, having a new body he wanted a new style as well.

Spotting a pair of mithril mail pants he took his pants off and placed the new ones on, placing the belt with all the pouches back around his waist he checked to make sure all the vials were there.

Looking over all the weapons he spotted the legendary falcata blades that had once belonged to the great warrior Molchang, they had been stolen by Krale and now they belonged to Ares. The blade was a blue with red symbols on it making the blades invincible to all.

As Dominic walked out of the tent Ares said facing Jolene, “ I hope you do well Jolene, remember everything I taught you and you will make a formidable warrior.” Without warning he kissed her passionately and walked out of the tent.

Jolene had kissed many times before but she’d never felt anything like that, that one kiss sent more heat down her body than when she’d been possessed by the demon, rubbing her fingers against her lips she smiled, letting a bit of emotions out after suppressing so many emotions previously.

Ares joined Dominic, “ Its good to be able to see, but we still got a lot of work to do. We need to find Loki, once we have him on our side then we’ll be able to finish our plans. But first we must visit your people, teleport us to the dark elf domain.”