The Nightmare Spreads
THE NIGHTMARE SPREADS
A story by Dashboard
The sun had begun it's morning rise. The first warm rays of light finally peaking over the horizon. As Jakob stood upon the balcony of the palace that his bloodline had defended for generations he felt his heart weep. The dawn was meant to be a moment that would bring warmth and happiness. A promise of a new and good day. But as the jackal's eyes looked over the metropolis that surrounded the palace he knew this dawn may be the last the city of Corvesh would ever witness.
Jakob closed his eyes, feeling the warm light of the morning sun wash over him as he breathed in the still cool morning air. Like his ancestors before him he had sworn with his heart and soul to protect the nation of Lurray. He had honored that vow every day of his life, having fought in wars and defeated many strong enemies. Yet as his eyes now looked to the outskirts of the city, to the hills beyond, he felt a fear unlike any before take hold of him.
Like a plague spawned from Hell it had spread. In only half a year's time they had devastated and conquered half of the world itself. And now the eyes of the Magiteck Empire and those of it's horrid ruler had fallen upon Lurray.
Jakob turned away from the sight of those hills, giving one last glance to the
rising sun. It was so beautiful. Perhaps it was a sign of hope. That somehow, someway the nation that he loved so dearly would survive this horror.
Upon those hills which overlooked the city a lone being stood in silence. The shape and build of his body resembled perhaps an ordinary fox. However the vulpine face, ears and tail were the only thing close to 'ordinary' upon him. The fox had no fur whatsoever to speak of. Indeed he was not even a being of flesh and blood anymore. From the tips of his ears to the end of his tail the vulpine's body appeared to be made of metal. Smooth and without any form of blemish, it's color a blend of blue and gray. He was known by one name throughout the world. He was Vendis, creator and emperor of the Magiteck Empire.
A slow smile crept over his face as he looked upon the city himself. "The capitol city of Corvesh. With your destruction another nation is absorbed into my empire. But I'm feeling rather greedy today." And he chuckled to himself as he raised his open palm up to chest level. In his hand there began to swirl small streams of light that formed into a sphere that looked to be made of glass.
"General Rodoss!" And within the glass sphere they appeared the face of what resembled a male cougar. His robotic head looked liked nothing more than the bared skull of one of his species.
Vendis could only grin as he looked upon the face of his general. "My army is in waiting at the specified coordinates?" Rodoss nodded his head as the metallic sound of his voice spoke, "Yes master. We await your attack signal as ever."
A dark laugh escaped the metallic ruler as he looked towards the sun again. "Excellent! When the signal is given move into the city. Kill every survivor you find. I do not want a single man, woman or child even crawling away from this." His voice held the tone of a sick desire as he gave his orders. The general merely nodded his head again, "As you command master." And as the visage faded Vendis crushed the sphere in his hand, smiling as he threw aside the shards.
"But first I must do something about this wretched weather. A bright sun and clear skies are not suited for a day of bloody massacres!" And he laughed loudly to nothing but the air. He raised his hand above him, clawed fingers extended to the skies as his eyes changed from their usual silver color to pure black.
On the tips of his claws there formed small green dots of light. A heartbeat later they rocketed into the sky above, swirling together until they appeared to disperse in a small and silent explosion. From that same spot above large and dark storm clouds began to spread out in all directions at an unnaturally quick pace. In mere moments the bright sun had been blocked from view by the clouds sending the land for miles beyond into a gray darkness.
A chilling wind began to build now as Vendis looked upon his simple creation with obvious approval. "Now we have the proper setting so let's touch up the star some before the show begins." And even as he spoke these words the very body of the vile ruler began to change. The smooth metal that was his body seemed to take on a liquid like appearance. In time as short as the formation of the storm his body now possessed fur as real as any other fox's coat. Clothing had appeared as well in the form of Grecian style muscle armour, leg guards and metal sandals.
Vendis laughed as he took to the air. The twisted smile remained as he rocketed towards the city center, landing as soft as a feather before the grand gates of the palace. Stretching out his hand, he clenched his fingers around open air. Though as his fingers seemed to clench over nothing the palace gates groaned and screeched as it was being crushed by some invisible force. The gates fell to the ground, crushed into a simple ball of twisted metal.
Vendis kept his eyes trained forward. He was no longer alone. Standing between him and the palace was a single obstacle. He remembered the sworn guardian of Lurray and it's people. It was the primary reason why he wished to attack the city alone this day. The jackal was clad in fine armour of a sea blue color. In one hand he grasped a magnificent sword, freshly sharpened by the looks of it. The other held a large oval shield bearing the symbol of the royal family of Lurray of a star settled within the center of a full moon. What most drew Vendis's attention was the smooth orb resting within the center of the jackal's chest, apparently crafted into the armour itself.
"I hope your not upset about the gates. You really should put in some sort of doorbell or intercom for visitors." The fox's smile and tone wreaked of mockery.
Jakob felt his blood boiling. His hands tightened upon his sword and shield to the point where his fingers hurt. "I will give you this one and only warning Vendis; leave this city and it's country and you may go peacefully."
The invader closed his eyes, hands clasped behind his back as if in thought over this demand. "Well that is a rather generous offer. Your name is supposed to be Jakob, correct?" His eyes opened again, locking with the jackal's own. Without warning the fox had suddenly kicked at the ball of metal still on the ground. It flew towards Jakob's head at incredible speed. Jakob barely managed to duck under the projectile only to feel his heart freeze in terror as he heard the crash a heartbeat later. Turning round he would be greeted by the sight of the royal palace, now with a huge area of the second story collapsed from the impact of the projectile.
Vendis still wore that twisted smile, tilting his head to the side as a cruel laugh escaped him. "Do you think there was any one inside when it hit? I do hope it was a member of the royal family. Perhaps the young prince. He did have his 7th birthday recently, didn't he?"
A quick flash of metal was before Vendis's eyes as he leaned back, avoiding the heavy slash from Jakob's sword. The jackal's eyes were filled with a righteous rage as roar of anger escaped. The disciplined training set down by his ancestors served him well. Each slash and swing of his blade was masterful, not a movement of his body was flawed. Yet still the fox wore his mocking smile.
They rushed through the streets and alleys like a storm more dangerous than the one above their city. A heavy rain had begun to fall alongside the strong winds now. For the citizens locked within their homes in shelters it was like a nightmare come to life. Yet still they hoped. The line of protectors that Jakob was born from had always defended and saved their nation and it's people. This was the darkest evil to ever threaten Lurray, yet surely their hero would find some way to win. Some way to banish this darkness and bring back the sun.
Jakob raised his arm high for another strong swing. So far all Vendis had done was dodge and block every strike. With how quickly they had moved the jackal surmised the fox possessed some magickal abilities about him to move as he did. But if he could land one true blow than Jakob knew he could win this. That is when the first blow was struck.
It came so quickly. Vendis's eyes had gone wide in a mad delight as his fist crashed against Jakob's shield. He was sent flying as if shot from a tanks cannon. He could do nothing to stop himself as his armoured body crashed through a two story home. His body crashed onto the ground, and the screams he heard from the crash was horrible.
Yet as he picked himself back up to his feat another strong blow hit the jackal from behind. It felt like someone had tried to crack his back with a sledgehammer. He slammed into yet another building, only this time it would collapse around him entirely.
Confusion gripped the jackal's mind as he tried to dig out of the debris around him. The armour was protected by arcane powers. The two blows he had received should not have caused him anywhere near this amount of harm. Yet the pain he felt was very real.
As he saw the darkened skies again a new horrific sight greeted his eyes. Floating a mere few feet above him was Emperor Vendis. His arms crossed, his mad smile still intact he laughed at the jackal below him. "Your armour is impressive, Jakob. But sadly I doubt your ancestors knew one such as I would challenge it someday. But I believe your beginning to see I am unlike any other being on this planet."
The words rang so very true for Jakob. For Vendis had revealed more of his monstrous nature at last. Appearing to have burst from his very back were four massive, writhing tendrils. Each one seemed to be of a smooth metal, their tips as sharp as the deadliest daggers.
A flash of lightning cut through the sky as Vendis extended his hand out towards Jakob. His fingers began to burn with a black and green fire. "This is my favorite part by the way. I wonder how loud you will scream."
And he slashed his hand upward, as if striking at some unseen opponent. In a heartbeat five pillars of the same green/black fire erupted from the ground underneath Jakob. The jackal cried out in obvious pain as the demonic fires lashed at his body.
Vendis laughed again in his dark joy as one of the tendrils shot out. It wrapped tightly around Jakob's body, picking him up as if he were a child's toy. The fox sent Jakob soaring through the air towards another area of the city, flying off after him like a missile after he saw his enemy crash.
As he arrived, he saw the small crater created by Jakob's landing. In it's center lay the jackal, his body motionless. The shield had been broken into large pieces, the sword laying within his open hand.
Vendis tilted his head as a look of annoyance washed over him. He landed at the feet of his fallen opponent. "What in God's name are you doing, boy? I barely start to have my fun and already your dead? You modern heroes today are hardly worth the effort anymore."
Leaning over the fox reached out towards the orb upon the chest of Jakob's armour. In a heartbeat Vendis's right arm had been sliced off from the elbow down. For several seconds the emperor looked upon his stump of an arm. The jackal sitting up partly, a mocking smile now upon his face. "I knew you would slip up."
A roaring cry of pain erupted from Vendis as he stumbled back. A disgusting black substance gushed and spurted from the open wound. Eyes filled with shock and rage turned upon the jackal. "Look what you've done to me! Do you know who I am you bastard!"
Jakob finally let out his own laugh. It hurt to stand, let alone allow himself his newfound smile. "You are the nightmare that has ravaged this world for nearly a year. But today the nightmare ends, Vendis. Hell itself will be too good for the likes of you." He was not sure how much strength he had left, gripping his sword tightly in both hands for the final blow.
Vendis stood there, transfixed as he watched the jackal lifting his sword again. "Damn you!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, holding onto his stumped limb with his intact hand.
Sword raised high, Jakob finally felt the victory that he had feared was impossible. Yet his sword did not fall. His entire body was frozen in sheer horror as the hope he had gained was cruelly gutted before his eyes.
Vendis's right arm began to change. The entire limb looked as if it had become a form of liquid metal. It began twisting and reshaping itself in a gross spectacle right before the jackal's eyes. But perhaps the cruelest sight was the smile that had returned to the fox's face. His eyes were filled with a mad fire as his arm changed and reformed. When it ended, what was Vendis's right arm now resembled a high powered energy rifle.
The invading emperor gazed upon his newfound 'limb' with obvious approval. "I am surprised that I never get tired of that look." And he laughed as he aimed the weapon squarely upon the jackal. "There is just something wonderful about almost literally seeing your hope die."
Short, rapid shots of thin energy beams erupted from the rifle's barrel. Jakob stood no chance at this range. They tore through his armour and body so easily. Even the mystic orb of his armour shattered as if it were mere glass.
Vendis watched in silence as Jakob fell forward before his feet. The jackal still held stubbornly to his last thread of life. The tears upon Jakob's face were hidden by the now falling rain.
As his right arm swiftly returned to it's normal shape Vendis chuckled softly. Kneeling down he took hold of Jakob's head firmly, lifting his gaze up. Their eyes met in silence. "Before I let you fade away, I thought you might want to know my secret." The fox smiled, seeing the small bit of confusion in the other's eyes. "I won't go into details of course. But I do believe you deserve this little reward for providing me so much entertainment. The truth of it is that I achieved a dream an honored ancestor of mine started many, many years ago. Our world has seen it as the ultimate taboo. Something that should never have been pursued." He leaned in close, his final words a whisper for the jackal alone. "The perfect fusion of the arcane arts and science. Magick and technology in a flawless existence together."
Jakob could only stare in horrified disbelief. Yet a part of his very soul knew this was no bluff. Whoever, whatever, this Vendis was, he was the stuff of nightmares.
The fox stood up again, laughing once more as he slowly soared high above the jackal's dying form. The wind and rain lashed around him as thunder boomed and lightning cut the sky. As before the fox created a sphere of glass within his hand, the image of his general appearing seconds after.
"My lord?" General Rodoss's tone implied he knew the reason behind the contact. Yet he had learned early on to never presume anything of the emperor.
"The signal, my loyal friend," And he became silent for simply a moment. His left arm reshaped itself as the right had done before. It formed itself into a deadly cannon, aimed directly at the area of the city directly below him. The barrel seemed to hum in anticipation before firing. A beam of black shot forth, striking upon the spot of Jakob's body. The ensuing explosion vaporized nearly half of the city in that single moment. Vendis's smile was worthy of the devil himself as he finished, "has been given. Remember, kill every citizen you find on sight."
And as he watched his army, who had encircled the entirety of the city, begin to swarm in like a plague the emperor felt as if he could sing in his joy. Another city had fallen. Another so called 'hero' obliterated by his very hands. With his power none would stop him in his desires. The world and all it's children would die. And Emperor Vendis would be their apocalypse.