Legend says that the Mountains were created 10.000 years ago, as a memento of the great war of the Gods. The mountain was ... astonishing. Just by looking the immensity of its size one could wonder about the gods. The mountain was pure and strong and it irradiated some kind of majestic aura. The base was glowing in gold tones, the path was covered by beautiful red and white flowers. At the midsection of the mountain, the rocks turn to a more silverish tone, and at the top pure white covers, the rocks as the Eternal Snow falls on that mountain. Legend also says that the Snow that falls upon that mountain is Goddess Ulyat tears for Isukt, her son lost at the great war, and for those adventurous enough, one of her tears might be recovered which would grant an absolute power as cold and strong as the Eternal Snow.
Bartant, Kyazi and Vestri and the other two dragons begin their path at the very base. Even though the mountain looked beautiful from the outside, not everything was as pleasant for our little group. The air was heavy to breathe, the path was steep, and the rocks hurt and cut the feet. Flowers were covered with crystal thorns which could pass through their skin with ease. They all felt hungry and thirsty and none of them have brought any to survive. As they climbed higher, the temperature dropped, and the air became more and harder to breathe. How was it even possible to survive all these challenges wondered Bartant. The path seemed to led astray but was the only path possible, so they had to endure and keep climbing. Bartant deeply regretted not to listen to her mother when he should have, so many spells would have come in handy.
The first night came quickly. Nights were so different to the day. It was very hard to see more than a few feet away, not a single moon ray passed through the gigantic mountain, the temperature was unbearably cold and weird sounds begun to echo between the inner peaks. The morning hot breeze transformed into a strong hurricane of cold wind with small pieces of frost. A storm was approaching and it was time to find shelter before it came. With hasty steps, the group found a big cave which they dared to enter. They settled near the entrance and Vestri quickly gave organized tasks, he was, after all, the most trained in survival. Bartant and Glumt (one of the mysterious dragons) should go explore the cave and return with information, avoiding any interaction. Kyrem, the other dragon, should help Kyazi build a fire and seal the entrance. He would stand guard on the first turn until the exploration team came back. While Kyrem was looking for wood and stones, Kyazi drew a circle and a cloud on the floor and chanted:
Clipeum: Durum Circulus
And a magical shield was built around the entrance, where no one could enter or leave unless the circle was erased from the floor.
Kyrem went back with stones and wood, and when Kyazi was about to chant a fire spell, Kyrem quickly drew his blade out and casted:
Kaji
And his blade turned to red and yellow, and then he stabbed the wood and the fire was built. Vestri, who was looking from the side wondered who this mysterious warrior was, being able to imbue magic to weapons.
Meanwhile, Bartant and Glumt explored deeper into the cave. The cave was a weird combination of light and darkness. Sudden flashes of light allowed them to see transparent crystals, stalagmites, and stalactites. Suddenly a path split in two, a weird odor came from the south of the cave while some pleasant perfume came from the north. Our warriors chose to follow the north path. As they walked deeper, the floor became more soft, more and more spongy, until it became impossible to walk. Each step made them bounce back a few steps. Bartant knew he could dash, but he didn't know Glumt, what would happen to Glumt if he left him alone? What would happen to himself if at the other side he needs Glumt's help? And as all these questions made Bartant doubt the next step, Glumt began to glow.
"The last one to get to the other side makes dinner" - Glumt laughed and chanted afterwards - "Fluege"Glumt vanished in thin air. What was that spell? Bartant had never heard of it. And suddenly, at the distance, he saw Glumt appear again at the other side. Bartant smiled and thought how powerful he might be, and wasted no time: Ventus Fortis.
The other side was oddly different. It didn't look like a creepy cave at all. A beautiful pale blue and silver tones illuminated the room and at the exact center of the room, a big perfect diamond was floating. Bartant felt like a superior force was drawing him to the diamond. It felt like the diamond was trying to talk to him in whispers, but he could not understand it. He was a few feet from the diamond when the cave started to rumble. Bartant quickly jumped back avoiding a falling stalactite. The stalactite was bigger than him, then, the second stalactite of about the same size fell at the side of the previous one. The stalactites begun to glow and shake, and then, they exploded. Two fully geared Warriors with bat faces came out of the explosion. Bartant knew exactly what they were Vulfur Knights, deadly knights who fight until their mission is completed or they are killed.
"The diamond is not for you to use. Leave or behold the anger of Vulfur" - shouted one of the Knights.
Bartant knew they shouldn't engage in a battle as Vestri said. They knew nothing from his opponent. But they seemed and Bartant loved to fight hard foes. He quickly looked at Glumt, who looked back and smiled.
Rules are meant to be broken, right? - Glumt said.
And so, Bartant full in confidence went straight for the Vulfur Knight. He dashed, and draw the knife right to the Knight's hand holding the sword, but the knight was fast and avoided him with ease. He jumped, dashed, dived at full speed but nothing worked. It was as the knight knew exactly what he would do. The knight dashed at him with a jousting skill and Bartant was lucky enough to dive it in time, he quickly tried to stab the Knight in the back, but he jumped up and attacked down. Bartant dashed to the side, but the wind generated by the sword cut him. It was not a deep wound, but it burnt. It was the Vulfur's venom. He knew he had to act quickly or else they would die. They..... he thought, where has Glumt gone? He quickly gazed the room just to find that Glumt was sitting on top of the dead Knight. How could have he killed him that fast? Glumt looked at him back with a diabolic grin. Bartant started to hate that guy. The knight waited no time and stroke again with his sword, but Bartant knew his opponent speed and reach, and was able to avoid it easily. He knew they could waltz all day, but he needed to start striking his opponent. He didn't want to use all his powers until the end, but he had no choice.
"Ictos" - chantes Bartant to appear at the side of the Knight - "Fuga" - he chanted again to appear on top of him - Tantum Spatha ...... Atrium.
And the knife cut the wind as it if were a gigantic sword, and the cut extended to the knight, chopping off the arm holding the sword. Bartant stroke the Knight to the throat to end his life and Glumt clapped and celebrated fully with irony. Bartant quickly came close to the diamond to take a glimpse. The diamond was glowing strongly, Bartant touched the diamond, and a rain of small light particles invaded the room, and suddenly he was not in the room no more. He could see himself, in some royal palace, in a golden and red armor. He was older, but he knew it was him, and he could himself screaming: "NO, DO NOT"
Suddenly everything went white. His eyes closed, and his body hit the floor. The venom in his veins knocked him out. A few hours later he woke up, alone, in the dark, and the diamond was gone. Where did Glumt go? Did he take the diamond? Why didn't he helped him? He felt dizzy and weak but decided to walk back to the group. But something was wrong. The path back was sealed by some kind of magic he could not cross. He started to look around the room for a different exit but nothing was to be seen. It seemed he was trapped, for the eternity. No one would find him, and even if they did, how could they dispel the magic that prevented him from leaving that room. Bartant thought hard, it was not his best skill after all, but then realized that Glumt had to leave the room somehow, not even teleportation magic can go through barriers, and the barrier couldn't be cast from the outside. Bartant began to walk the room and feel the wall. Perhaps a hidden passage was hiding somewhere. After a few sweepings, he was able to find a crack in the wall. He carefully put his knife in the crack and started applying pressure, and just when he was about to give up, the wall cemented. He continued applying pressure until a passage was revealed. It was narrow and smelled horrible, but it was the only way out, so he continued through the passage. Every step he took made the smell worse and he couldn't almost breathe. The path ended only to reveal a gigantic grotto with an enormous sleeping bat in the middle.
"It was about time you got here, I was getting bored. I wonder, what would happen to you, in that weak state if Famine, the soul eating Vulfur Bat King, would awaken?" - said a voice he knew.
"Don't you dare Glumt, why are you doing this?" - replied Bartant.
"All in due time my little chosen warrior" - he said - " Eins, Zwei, Drei ... Lebensruf"
The cave rumbled while the bat opened his eyes, flapped its wings, and made a horrendous squeak that chilled the soul. It felt like death itself. Bartant was weak, he knew he couldn't fight the bat, and no hiding trick would work in the dark, which the bat was already used to. He needed light, he needed Kyazi's magic. He couldn't beat that enemy on his own, so he did what he could do best, buy time. He quickly runs behind a stone pillar, but Famine made an ultrasound scream to destroy it. He then quickly dashed to a different stone, which was destroyed as well. He realized one thing, while Famine was big and strong, he was slow and could hardly move. He kept moving and hiding behind rocks until he could have a plan. Rocks kept getting destroyed and Bartant was running out of options. He saw a few crystals embedded in the walls. If he could somehow remove them and hide behind them, the ultrasound should bounce back to Famine leaving him unharmed, after all, crystals are superior rocks. He quickly dashed to a wall trying to remove one of them, but Famine lost no time and hit him from afar. His body was aching. That attack was devastating. He would not have enough time to remove the crystal, and now he was as slow as Famine. He lost his edge over it. While lying on the ground he realized there was some kind of stairs made out of crystals. If he could somehow get there....
"The only way to block and attack, if its stronger than you, is to become harder than it. You won't be able to move, you won't be able to attack, but if your foe uses everything on that attack, then he won't be able to attack you quickly again. Become one with your surroundings..."
Bartant recalled his father's words.... and decided it was worth a try. He stood up, Famine launched his wing attack and he closed his eyes, concentrated on his surroundings, and mumbled Adiamanto. His skin hardened, his muscles got bigger and stronger, but he could not move. It had worked, and then he heard a squeak. Famine was in pain. It had worked perfectly, at least until the next attack. Bartant quickly jumped and climbed to the top, while Famine kept attacking him and he kept protecting himself. Bartant saw the light at the very top, he couldn't stop now. Famine tried once more the ultrasound attack, Bartant shielded, but this time he got blown away. He quickly grabbed the edge of the step. He was tired, weak, poisoned and beaten up, but he could not give up. Just when Famine made another ultrasound attack again, he quickly jumped to the top of the step and chanted Fuga to the very on top platform. Famine squeaked angrily, and Bartant knew he was out of range, but he knew it was not the last of Famine he would see. He kept climbing towards the top light. He climbed out and saw a very long hanging bridge leading to what it looked like an ancient Cathedral that resembled the Hall of the Sky Council.
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