Return of the Fallen Volume 9 Chapter 9
Grek and his wife Chela caused a distraction and blocked everyone’s vision with a plume of dust and debris. Without hesitation, Grek scooped up his wife and kids in his arms and moved as fast as an arrow in the direction of the Great forest. His thinking was simple. As long as he made it into the forest then he could deal with Ogastx’s great sense of smell.
He knew of many plants and vegetation that produced and secreted powerful odors. Any one of them could cover their tracks just by simply rubbing them on their bodies. He just needed to make it to the first and then they would be home free.
Ogastx was disappointed.
“You’ve made the wrong choice.”
Lifting his hand, a ring on his finger glowed with green light.
Just as Grek was about to step into the thick brush, a large wall of condensed rock formed in front of him, completely blocking his path. Grek stomped on the ground to stop his forward momentum and he looked at his wife. She already knew what to do and her ring lit up but to her dismay, her powers were too weak. As she tried to make an opening in the wall, only small chips of rock fell away.
“It’s not working, this man’s power is much greater than mine!”
Grek was a little taken aback. His wife had used the gordonia element all her life and was basically an expert with that magic yet she could do nothing against this southern lord’s power. Grek quickly adjusted his family in his arms and held them all on one side. With his now free hand, he drew his crescent red blade and slashed at the wall of stone in front of him.
*BANG CRACK*
The wall sunk inward by about a foot and several long cracks spread out from the center like a spider’s web but in the end, this only left a small hole to the other side, nothing he nor his family could squeeze through.
Before he could attack the same spot again, the wall started to repair itself before the naked eye. Grek understood there was no way he could smash the wall in an instant and with the black army now charging at him from behind, Grek opted to try and dash around the wall and escape.
Pivoting as fast as possible, he kicked off the ground and ran parallel with the wall.
Ogastx saw Grek’s power and smiled. His interest in Grek only grew.
(His strength is not equal to mine but he would be second in my army. If he and I come together, I can sweep the lands in only a few years I’m sure of it.)
Ogastx saw Grek trying to rush around his wall and he didn’t let up. With a casual wave, the wall extended faster than Grek could run.
(Damn this bastard! He’s trying to keep me here no matter what.)
“Honey, run straight ahead, I’ll give you a boost!”
Chela called out confidently and Grek put his trust in her. He continued straight even when Ogastx threw a wall up right in front of him. Suddenly a ramp formed beneath Grek’s feet and Chela called out to him again.
“JUMP NOW!”
Grek trusted his wife’s words and kicked off the ramp with a mighty leap. The moment his feet were about to leave the ground, the ground rose up and launched him with even more force. Grek carrying his family, ascended nearly 200 feet in the air all at once. The small family had just enough momentum to make it over the wall and were nearly there when Ogastx saw what was happening and slapped both of his palms down on the ground at once in a rush. The wall’s height suddenly increased by another 50 feet in an instant and blocked their path.
Now they were about to slam directly into it and the chief grew worried.
“You said you wouldn’t harm them!”
Ogastx shrugged his shoulders.
“And I still don’t have to. As long as Grek cooperates.”
Just as Grek was about to slam into the tall wall, he took his blade in one hand and stabbed it forward with everything he had.
*CHK*
His blade sunk a foot into the wall and got caught at a slight angle. This prevented him from slamming into the wall and also gave him a spot he could grab.
“Chela, get the kids away from here!”
With one hand gripping his stuck blade, he used his other arm to launch his wife and kids high up into the air and over the wall in one go. The chief was terrified seeing Chela and the others disappearing over the wall. He didn’t wish them any harm and still cared greatly for Chela and the kids. If they were injured, he’d never forgive himself.
“My lord please save them!”
The chief was in such a fright that he had actually forgotten about the forest beyond the wall. The moment Chela and her children were thrown over the wall, they were already in the forest and falling. The Great forest felt their presence and the danger they were in and acted instantly. Several vines sprung out of the nearby trees and caught them. Wrapping them in a safe cocoon, the vines began to pull them into the safety of the forest but before they could sigh in relief, several stone blades flew out from the wall and cut the vines to ribbons.
Once more Chela and her kids were in free fall.
A hole in the wall formed and a slide made from stone materialized beneath them connecting from one side of the wall and back to the battlefield. Grek was aware of what was happening but before he could make a move, a large stone pillar shot out and hammered him directly in the chest. The blow was large and it separated him from his sword.
Grek was thrown backward from this blow and fell down more than 200 feet. Just as he was about to hit the ground and Chela and the rest were about to be caught Zephris made his move.
The power of wind rushed and swirled. A small cushion of wind caught his father and broke his fall. At the same time, he lifted his mother and little sister high up into the air and flew away into the depths of the forest.
Both Ogastx and the village chief were shocked as they witnessed this. The chief knew that Zephris was odd and could control some magic without a tool but he never knew the boy could use it to this extent. Ogastx as well could never have predicted this. A boy that could use magic without a tool.
“Such mastery and control of magic and at such a young age. That boy is beyond rare and must be a genius. Not just the father but also the son is so talented. The both of them will serve me and all of Feya will fall into my hands!”
A fiendish smile spread across the man’s face as the future he envisioned seemed ever closer knowing another great pawn would soon be his to control.
At the same time, Zephris and his family were getting further and further away Ogastx grew worried and barked.
“Old elf take some of my men with you. You must capture the boy and bring him back to me. If you do this, your forest will remain untouched for as long as I draw breath. However, if you fail me, not just you but every elf whether they live in the great forest or not shall be wiped off the face of the world, and the forest will be reduced to cinder and ash. NOW GO!”
The chief shuddered at the threat. He knew this man would do just that and he felt as if he would collapse just from the thought. Several thousand warriors, knights, and mages broke apart from Ogastx’s side and headed toward the forest.
Grek saw this and he grew enraged. Opening his mouth, he roared.
“BURNNNNN!”
A blazing inferno of red flames came rushing from his mouth and spread out for nearly a hundred feet and came gushing like a wave of fiery death.
It spread over the group of soldiers that had rushed in his direction to chase after his family.
“SHIELD WALL”
“BARRIER!”
“STONE SKIN”
“VEIL OF SHADOWS!”
Dozens of voices echoed out as many Mages unleashed their own power. Dozens of barriers made from different types of magic lit up and formed protection around several people. Grek didn’t care and continued to roar and breathe hot flames.
This fire breath lasted for nearly 3 minutes as it washed over this army, bathing them in flames.
A few of the weaker Mages couldn’t hold out and their barriers failed. The moment this happened, not only they but the soldiers they were protecting were covered in flames in an instant, and screams of terror rippled out as they were burned alive.
Finally, Grek ran out of breath and fell to his knees in exhaustion.
The flames died down the moment Grek stopped and the devastation he left was a haunting sight to see.
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