44 Game over (1/2)
”How high do you want to go?
I'd want to hop like a Monkey and jump above the treetops.
That's it?
Well, I'd also want to be like a Tiger and climb on the steepest cliffs.
Only that?
Or like an Eagle and soar in the infinity of the heavens.
That's all?
A Dragon, then. Like a Dragon I'd want to touch the windows of the skies and glimpse at the universe from there.
Are you done?
I believe so. And you, how high do you want to go?
Like no one else.
What do you mean?
Like no one else, I will dominate all heavenly bodies, I'll be free and unattainable. I will be like the unreachable sky for Monkeys, Tigers, Eagles and Dragons. The universe will be but a tiny spark of my conscience, life will be but the formation of one of my thoughts, death will be but one of my sighs.
I will reign unrivalled; nothing will exist above me.”
Sacred Incision of the Clans of Destruction
In the present
04:21
Only a handful of Goblins was still alive now. The Commander stood there, paralyzed by the terrifying power exercised by the Master. Vidio looked like a deity, continuously appearing and disappearing and wreaking death and desperation wherever he went.
”Damn, that monster. He's too strong, not even I can stop him. Fuck, FUCK!” snarled the Commander desperately, ready to engage in battle at any second.
The Commander was gripped by a terrible anxiety that strangled his throat and twisted his bowels.
Boom!
Skill Activated:
Run on the Cumulonimbus
Amplification from Lightning Dance: 500%
Vidio appeared behind the Commander who barely managed to raise his weapon to parry the blow.
Skill Activated:
the Casting is forced and the Skill activates immediately.
Ascending Lightning
Amplification from Lightning Dance: 500%
BOOM!
A merciless blow.
Goblin Commander lost 1405 HP!
Even though the Commander had parried the blow, the hit had been devastating. The Goblin was thrown against some trees, which split in two one after the other, due to the impact. The Commander landed ten yard further away, completely stunned.
Helial and Snowflake were looking utterly bewildered at the Master's display of strength, who was fighting against someone one Phase above his own. Lumia, on the other hand, was witnessing the scene wide-eyed, stroking Snowflake's head in a panic.
”When are we going to the mountains?” she whispered.
”Very soon, it seems”, replied Helial, sighing in relief and relaxing his shoulders.
…
Not too soon, I believe.
…
Vidio threw a palm against the last few Goblins, making sure they would not hurt Helial, the girl or Snowflake. The two soldiers disappeared; two pools of anonymous blood were the only remainders of their previous existence.
Vidio approached the Commander and used again his Movement Skill, Run on the Cumulonimbus. The two clouds under the Master's feet seemed to contain endless propulsive power.
4:09
”It's over”, said Vidio, gritting his teeth. He glanced at the surrounding area, looking for an escape that would take him and the others as far as possible. Remaining there was way too dangerous.
The battle had lasted much less than he had foreseen, but there was a problem puzzling him: the Commander was for sure not the strongest enemy he could be facing at the moment. Vidio could still take care of a Goblin in the Third Phase, but if he were to come…
The Commander stared at Vidio with eyes full of terror and shouted: ”Wait, I beg you! Stop! I'll let you go!”
The corners of Vidio's mouth trembled: ”Why should I believe you? Stinking piece of shit, you almost killed my disciple. If it weren't for me, those three would now be ground meat. Hehe, I know I'm too strong, right guys?” he cried, turning to the others standing several yards behind him, and so unable to hear him. ”Hahaha, let's not waste time, anyway. One of us has to die today. Guess who's that going to be?”
A great amount of bolts of lightning gathered around them.
The Commander stared at them, petrified. He cast a last desperate glance on Helial, Lumia and Snowflake, who had come closer to the fighting ground. The girl was getting down the cat to run in her brother's arms.
The Goblin saw in Helial's cold eyes that there was no mercy to be sought in them. He clenched his fists, until his fingernails sank into the living flesh of his palms.
Plop plop
Drops of blood fell to the ground. That was it, there was nothing more he could do.
Vidio brandished the Staff with two hands, ready to bring out his strongest Skill.
Skill Activated:
Divine Lightning Winged Dragon!
The Staff seemed to turn into a huge, magnificent dragon, with blinding blue scales. That being seemed to reign on all and intimidate every other living form.
The Lighning Dragon looked at the Commander with flaming eyes, ready to devour him.
ROAAAAR!
With a deafening roar, he launched himself at the tiny Goblin.
”Save me, my King!”
A flash of blinding light violently hit Vidio's eyes.
Helial shielded his eyes with the back of his hand.
DONG!
There was a deafening boom, but no shockwave, as if the Skill had vanished into nothing.
What's happening?, wondered Helial.
A deadly silence fell all around them.
When the light died out, a translucent barrier became visible, protecting the Goblin Commander from the Divine Lightning Winged Dragon.
The atmosphere got immediately tenser.
Vidio, Helial and Snowflake looked beyond the barrier.
”Shit.”
On the other side of the barrier stood an impressive Goblin, tall with a hook nose. He looked much more like a human than a Goblin, but his greenish skin was unmistakenly that of the mountain people.
Caesar.
”I cannot let another one of my brothers die this way; I've lost too many today. Stupid humans”, boomed Caesar. With a solemn look and slightly furrowed brow, he gazed at the man in the Second Phase standing in front of him.
He dissolved the barrier and took a step forward.
Boom! Boom!
Both Vidio's arms turned into pink mist. The Master fell helplessly on his knees.
Caesar sighed, pursed his lips, then turned and beckoned the Goblin Commander.
The Commander understood immediately and drew his sword, launching himself at Vidio.
Fwoosh!
The blade sliced Vidio all the way through.
”Die, filthy human!” cried the Goblin Commander, almost delirious with Schadenfreude.
One moment.
Such a long description for a scene that had lasted for a breath, for a split second. Dreams, hopes, all shattered. Vidio spat a mouthful of blood, looking at his HP bar dropping relentlessly.
With trembling lips, he glanced at the wound in his chest, staring at the blood with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
”And so, today I di-” the words died in his mouth, together with his half smile. After all, he had been dead for the last twenty-five years.
This time, irony was not going to work, his foolish smile was not going to save him. Tears began to stream down his cheeks and all his body was shaken with painful sobs. Vidio lifted his clouding eyes on Caesar.
”Mercy…”
Caesar was looking at him, an emotionless look.
”Not for me”, Vidio moved his frantic gaze on Helial, Lumia and Snowflake.
Caesar saw the wrenching pain in the eyes of the man and got lost in it for a moment. His eyebrows moved ever so slightly, while he got ready to pulverize that man, so he would not suffer pointlessly.
”My son…” said Vidio, in a voice broken by sobs.