The Fangs of Terror
#22 of Legend of the Tiger Clan
With the coming eclipse Zeng and his comrades journied to black pillar where the four pedestals awaited, while the ship made its way through the volcanic region everyone checked their weapons and supplies while Saline and Linda sent messages to their neighboring kingdoms to prepare themselves should Kairos escape.
Shayde, Xani and Zeng practiced their fighting techniques, elsewhere Kerric and Abby spent what might be their last day together in bed while Sharon and Elicia prayed to Gaia asking her to protect them in their upcoming battles. After a couple of hours the ships lookout spotted the first pedastal at the top of a ziggurat and by the look of the marking it was for the gem of water, as the group prepared to make their way up the ziggurat Sharon and Elicia hugged all of them knowing that this was not their fight.
"Be careful sweetheart..."
"We love you so much *sniff*"
"We'll be back mom. I promise."
As they made their way up the steps of the temple a look of seriousness and determination came upon their faces as they noticed dark storm clouds forming over them and the wind suddenly became eerie and cold.
"It's Karios...he knows we're here."
Being a user of magic Angel could sense the prescence of both arcane, elemental and dark magic yet still they made their way to the top where there stood the pedestal and the symbol of Gaia. It seemed very easy as Sam brought out the gem and prepared to place it on the pedastal but at the last moment a huge black flame bursted in front of them and from it came a knight in dark sinister spiked armour and carrying four katanas and by the smell he caught Shayde could tell that they had been soaked with the blood of many victims.
"I'm afraid I can't let you passss. I am Sir Plaugebringer, ssservant of Lord Kairos."
"A snake. I hate snakes"
The knight removed his helm to reveal himself as a king cobra and they all could see black markings around his eyes that glowed with dark magic. the knight stared at the three before him and noticed Xani as he licked his lips at her and began to chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing I was Jussst thinking about how good you'll taste when I make you my whore HA HA HA!!"
"HYAAAGH!!!"
Shayde was the one to make the first move as he dashed in with a slash draw but Plaugebringer was faster as he easily parried the attack and attempted to cleave off Shaydes head only to have Sam fire three arrows in him but the arrows barely pierced the surface of his armor then Xani swooped in from behind slamming him with the blunt end of her staff knocking him off his feet and easily shattering his armor like glass.
"Had enough?"
"Don't gloat just yet Xani. look..."
Shayde stared at the shadow knight rising to his feet and dusting himself off with ease then he noticed that his swords only had half a hilt each then a look of fright came onto him as he suddenly brought his sword to a defensive position the moment the shadow knight clamped his swords together to form an even sinister one.
"Shayde?!?"
"Guys be careful!! that sword he's carrying is called a Renbatou! it's a katana that can literally carve chunks out of its victims so that they die from intense bleeding and exhaustion!"
"Pretty sssmart for a mongrel now lets ssseee how you fair against two! NYAGH HA HA!!"
This time the knight struck first at Shayde with lightning speed, while Shayde parried and dodged the attacks Xani moved in from behind attempting to impale him only to see Shayde get knocked out as he gave a full one-eighty degree swing slashing her chest and tearing her tunic, Sam attempted to stop him but in one quick sweep he was knocked against a pillar allowing the knight to do as he wished with the injured husky.
"So that's what the breastsss of a female thief look like, very nice I wonder how they feel hmm hm hm..."
"Keep away from me...you bastard!!"
Xani attempted to try and reach for her staff but her body refused to move, the blades had been doused with neurotoxin and all she could do was whimper as she saw the maggot infested hand reach for her left breast. Zeng and Kerric attempted to jump in but were pushed back by a magic barrier leaving them completely helpless as they continued to watch.
"No...please..."
"heh heh heh-?!?"
"LEAVE HER ALOOOONE!!!!!"
Shayde had suddenly sprang back to life and charged at the knight with a full 360 degree swing going for a powerful slash draw but Plaguebringer simply crossed his swords as he blocked the attack.
"Pathetic-WHAT?!? (he attacked with the sheath first just so he could get in close!!!)"
"DIEE!!!!"
This time when Shayde drew his sword he cleaved the shadow knight into two halves and as his enemy fell to his knees a black mist began to emit from his body as he stared up into the sky with the life fading from his eyes.
"It seems i've underestimated you...."
As the rest of his body faded nothing was left but his remaining armor and his two weapons both now completely dulled. Shayde covered up Xani with her cloak allowing Zeng to take her back down to the ship, Sam woke up shortly after and seemed disappointed knowing he missed all the action while Shayde placed the gem on the pedastala activating its magic.
A beacon of light the shot out into the sky clearing the dark clouds surrounding the temple but just as things seemed peaceful a dark voice echoed in their minds.
"You fools...do you think that you can contain me? I am beyond you power, soon you shall pay for your arogance."
There was no doubt that the voice they just heard was Kairos and as they looked up they could see the eclipse was halfway to completion and time was against them
The End.