1. Want to get our most recent announcements - and XP codes - in your email?

    Sign up for our mailing list!

MineZ -[Alpha Omega]- -[Story Thread]-

Discussion in 'Roleplay' started by Dodger546, Jul 27, 2013.

MineZ - -[Alpha Omega]- -[Story Thread]-
  1. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Notice]

    Please do not reply to this thread. If you wish to make comments, go Here

    If you wish to make an application, go Here

    Did you see an error? Go Here to report the error to me!

    [Notice]

    This novel may contain,
    Minecraft style foul language
    Gore
    Fighting
    Extreme teleportation

    Do not read if you don't like any of these things. Well read anyways.

    Enjoy, this is the story about Dodger a month before the outbreak happened!

    [Prologue]

    A mercenary, named Dodger, was deceived by a magician in Carnival, making Dodger have unnatural strength and teleportation. Dodger set the magicians tent on fire and traveled the land from there on for the next five years. However Red Demon had a plan, to infect the entire land ridden with zombies. Dodger, unsure of the plan of Crimson, and unsure who Pale Eyes is, will be traveling the entire land with magicians, rangers, mercenaries, healers and soldiers just to find one simple plan. The plan, of Pale Eyes.
    SuperPolentaman likes this.

  2. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 1: Infuse]

    Dodger and his squadron arrived at Carnival. Dodger shook his head. They finally made it. This was a dire situation that the king wanted them to do. The land was in rebellion and few cities were still under his king’s majesty. Dodger rolled his eyes at the thought. As if anyone cared. No one disturbed the king unless it had something to do on a continental scale, and even still, no one really disturbed him. Dodger wasn’t too sure why. Anyways, the king told his general, who told his second lieutenant to tell a squadron of his to go to Carnival to defend it from rebellion. That was bull. No one in their right mind would attack a circus made just for fun, unless they were diseased. Dodger looked at the Carnival. Loads of people were here, and Dodger partly understood why the king wanted to keep his grip on this town. It would allow him to keep his grip on the land, for the entertainment was here. This was actually a perfect place for terrorism. Dodger shook his head. They were going to totally stand out. Dodger looked down at his iron armour, iron sword in hand, with his extremely worn out bow. He chuckled at his sword. He found that in the lens of the Sundawn Observatory. Why anyone hid an iron sword there was beyond him, but Dodger kept it, and the caretakers of the observatory did not care one bit. Dodger looked up towards the horizon behind them. They had just come that way. Dodger almost bonked his head. He had to stay focused, he was hoping to rank up to Sergeant Major, which was the highest rank he could possibly think of getting. Of course, his lieutenant still could boss him around before then, and he was a real piece of work. Dodger gestured to his squadron.

    “Alright guys, remember, establish a perimeter and we can go home quicker,” everyone agreed with that. This war was taking a stalemate turn, causing all the front line soldiers to take pain. However, if they could crush the rebellion, then everyone could go home, and live in massive luxury. That was a blessing for anyone, and lots of people signed up. Dodger looked at his squad, satisfied with their commitment, and led his squad towards Carnival.

    Everyone took second glances at him, but no one really questioned, except one small group. Dodger’s squad was the only squad here, so in a sense, Dodger was the commanding officer. This man could easily see that.

    “Excuse me, but why are you here?” Asked the man, a tone of a know-it-all in his voice, like as though Dodger was desecrating his mother or something, Dodger had no idea. Dodger merely looked at him, not amused.

    “Citizen, we are here to protect Carnival, sent by the king himself, to protect you incase of rebels,” the man laughed, and Dodger ceased his thousand yard fake stare. Dodger had seen battle, but he guessed pretending was out of the picture.

    “I am sorry, sir!” He added offense to that remark, like as though it was a disgrace to be what Dodger was now. “But Carnival is peaceful, no one will come here, who are these rebels anyways?” Dodger looked at the man straight in the eyes, not averting his gaze.

    “Listen up citizen. These rebels are calling themselves Bandits. These rebels will do anything they can to gain the upper hand, so watch who you are talking to before you do something you will regret,” the man assumed a look of mock surprise.

    “Oh sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to insult you,” he held up his arms. “What’cha gonna do! Beat me over the head?” Dodger did not take idle threats so he walked off. He made his point and he was proud of it, even when the man made fun of him leaving. Dodger looked back. When a person was drunk so hard you could smell the alcohol on them, you knew you would not want to dance with them.

    Dodger looked over, and saw a magician, advertising his thing, however, almost no one was taking a second glance towards him. Dodger decided he would inspect his show. Dodger looked at the sign. On it it said, ‘Guy Magician Will BLOW Your Mind!’ Dodger merely shook his head. Guy Magician? How cheesy could this possibly be? Guy saw him reading the sign, and rushed over to Dodger.

    “Hey! Hey you! Hey can you possibly help Guy out?” Dodger simply looked at him, thought about it, and then made the sign on his face that he was listening. Guy smiled. “Great! All I need you to do is go under a blanket; I’ll say abracadabra and BOOM! You will teleport behind the curtain. All by me!” Guy smiled. Dodger did not seem convinced. He also did not feel like he should accept. Guy kept smiling, and some of his troops came up behind him. Some were smiling as well. Dodger shook his head, and Guy’s smile lost a little of its luster, but was still going full force. “Come on man! You can jump start me by accepting this whole thing,” Dodger started to leave, but Guy kept following him. “Come on man!” One of the soldiers called out,

    “Yeah Dodger come on!” A lot of his soldiers were chuckling, seeing their commanding officer being told by a magician. Dodger looked at his troops and looked at Guy. Guy suddenly pulled something from his pack on his back. He looked at Dodger.

    “I was wanting to save this, as a reward for helping me, but maybe this will change your mind a little bit,” Dodger’s senses went on high alert. It was a massive federal offence to bribe a soldier on duty. Dodger then considered. It was just a magic trick no harm no foul right? Dodger looked at Guy, who brought out a bow gleaming with enchantments. Dodger looked surprised. This wasn’t gold or a sword or better armour, this was a bow. Dodger always wanted to be better with his bow. He had heard of rangers and stuff, but Dodger searched the land for the place, never able to find the place where they were situated.

    Dodger looked at his bow, worn, used, the string was about to break. Dodger looked at the enchanted bow. He looked at Guy.

    “What is on it?” Guy looked down at the bow, and then looked back up at Dodger, still smiling.

    “Flame and infinity on this bow,” Dodger’s eyes went wide. That was a rare bow, an extremely rare bow. You never saw any this far south, or any at all. Yet here it was, in the hands of this magician. Dodger gingerly took the bow. Guy’s smile widened. Dodger decided he had to say it, so he did.

    “Alright, Guy, I will do it,” Guy pumped his fist, and Dodger’s squad clapped their hands. This was different. Dodger looked at his squadron. His second-in-command came up to Dodger, and shook his hand.

    “This is going to be cool Dodger. You are going to give him a lot of money,” Dodger nodded his head, yet his stomach and head hurt like crazy. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt like he would regret this from years to come. Dodger shook his head. It was just a magic trick. The most that was most likely going to happen was Dodger was going to drop down a chute, be raised behind the curtain, then boom, he teleported. Dodger reassured himself, he hoped nothing bad would happen, like the tent burning down, or Dodger being stuck in the chute. Dodger shook his head. He needed to focus. Dodger started patrolling the perimeter. He started dwelling on what happened, and what will happen.

    Dodger was sitting with his squad and a few other people at the Carnival. Dodger’s squadron had checked everything, making sure no one could get in, and headed towards Guy’s tent. There was a pedestal and a curtain behind the pedestal. Dodger shook his head. He was right. It was going to be something simple like this. Everyone was watching the magician as he made a ball into a big metal pole, changing the pole into fire, and eating the fire. People clapped from time to time, but Dodger’s squad was waiting for Guy to call up Dodger. Suddenly, Guy said,

    “Alright, for my next trick, I am going to bring up a random person, one who you may, or may not know,” The squad looked at Dodger, and Dodger’s second-in-command leaned into Dodger.

    “Did you practice for this?” Dodger froze. Guy never told him to come practice to see what was happening. He just asked and left. Dodger shook his head, and his second-in-command raised his eyebrows. “Alright well this will have some unpredictability in it,” Dodger nodded, he was not sure how Guy would teleport him behind that curtain. The pedestal was raised, you could see under it. Dodger was becoming less and less convinced that Guy could pull this off. Guy closed his eyes, and waved his fingers around. He opened his eye a little to find Dodger, and pointed straight at Dodger. His entire squad exploded in cheering, and sent Dodger up to the platform. Dodger simply smiled, but gave the look of I-will-slap-you-all-with-my-discipline-whip. Everyone simply smiled and gave thumbs up, telling Dodger to go. Dodger looked at Guy, who motioned towards the pedestal. Dodger laid down on the pedestal, the blanket thrown all of Dodger. Guy said,

    “Now for my next trick, I will send this man, magically, away from this pedestal, and behind that curtain behind me!” Dodger could see the shadow of Guy pointed to Dodger’s right. Dodger heard someone get up and leave. Guy kept going. “I will now say the magic words, to teleport this man,” Guy started chanting, the room got colder. Dodger was now not to sure about doing this. Guy was chanting, in a different language, a language of old, of power, of magic. Dodger did not want to move and disturb Guy. Dodger looked around with his eyes. Guy kept chanting, and Dodger felt something stirring around Guy. Suddenly, Dodger felt something going inside him! It was a weird worming feeling, and it entered his head, and his limbs and body. Dodger’s head hurt like as though someone hit a frying pan upside his head. It hurt so much, until suddenly, Guy stopped, and said, “You will now see this man behind the curtain, after I remove this blanket!” Dodger realized he was not standing up, and wasn’t sure what happened. Suddenly Guy threw off the blanket, and the sudden light around the room blinded Dodger. Dodger threw his hands to his face, covering his eyes from the shearing light. Laughter exploded all around him, and Dodger wanted to cover his ears as well. Dodger removed his hands to get used to the light, and rubbed his temples. His head hurt so much it was unbearable. Dodger looked over at Guy, who looked at Dodger with concern. His smile was not on his face, which means something went wrong. Dodger still held his hands to his head, trying to drown out the noise of laughter. People were filing out except his squad; some people yelling back at Guy,

    “You are trash! Trash!” And they would leave in a hurry. Dodger did not care, his head hurt like crazy. Guy came over to Dodger.

    “Ah, I think you might want to know this Dodger. I did a mistake while trying to teleport you,” Dodger’s entire squadron heard Guy, and quieted down. Guy did something wrong. Dodger barked at Guy to tell him what happened; yet Guy seemed to hesitate. Dodger barked at him again, and Guy held up his hands. “I did a mistake in my chanting. I by accident infused you with the ability to teleport with your mind, and the strength I needed to teleport you. You can teleport and have the strength of four men Dodger!” Guy said, backing up. Dodger looked at the ground. Guy infused him with teleportation and strength by accident? Not only that, but Dodger could teleport on his own. Dodger suddenly became very mad. This person had desecrated his body, and infused something that was not in the deal. Dodger was so mad he imagined teleporting behind Guy, and suddenly, his vision warped, sharpened, magnified, giving him motion sickness, then snapped back to normal, and he was behind Guy. Dodger brought his hands to Guy’s face and side of his head, and quickly snapped his neck, sending a tooth flying, and breaking the sound barrier. Everyone had scrambled back in surprise at Dodger teleporting, and was even more surprised to see Dodger snap the neck of Guy. Guy fell to the ground, a puddle of blood forming somehow. Dodger’s second-in-command slowly came over to Dodger.

    “Dodge, are you okay?” Dodger looked at his second-in-command, and pointed at the doorway.

    “All of you get out,” he said, still pointing at the door. They hesitated. “GET OUT!” He yelled at them. They ran off, running from Guy’s tent. Dodger took out his bow, and an arrow sprung to his bow. Dodger pointed it behind him, and shot, letting the arrow catch the tent on fire. Dodger teleported out, and looked back at his handiwork. He saw the tent fully ablaze within a few minutes, and the locals were trying to put it out, with zero success. Dodger hated this place, and was glad he got revenge on the mad magician who infused his body with magic. Dodger looked down, and saw his armour was still good. Dodger decided he would need something different, and went eastern, away from Carnival.

    Dodger sprang awake. He was sitting on such a comfortable seat he didn’t realize he fell asleep. Dodger went under his mask and rubbed his eyes. He kept forgetting he had this thing, and how such a hassle it was sometimes. Dodger looked around. He realized he was under Heartless Mansion. This place was massive underground, where the ranger’s top ranked held meetings here. Dodger was always looking for this place. He thought about becoming a ranger, but was now satisfied with his soldier life, helping people out for massive gold and diamond blocks, the easy life. Dodger propped his feet on a table, when a ranger came towards Dodger. Her cloak made her blend in with the surroundings around her. She looked with distaste at Dodger.

    “Are you Dodger?” Dodger nodded his head, removing his feet from the table. She raised her head a little bit. “Vos is ready to see you then,” Dodger rubbed his hands, and sprang up from his comfortable seat.

    “Alright, then I am ready to see him,” The ranger gestured with her hand for him to follow her, and Dodger strutted along, trying not to make a show of himself.

    Back to Top
  3. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 2: Heartless]

    This place was utterly massive. Dodger reflected back at Romero, the biggest city in Aeronaean. Romero was big, but big in the amount of land it had. Heartless Mansion had space in height, and the amount of room that was available. Very open concept, and Dodger liked open concept. Dodger kept following the ranger girl, and asked a question, which he found quite innocent.

    “What is your name, ranger?” Dodger said it close to another ranger, and the ranger tackled Dodger. Dodger was taken by surprise, and did not expect the sudden outburst from this ranger. They wrestled for a bit, each trying to get a hold of each other, until Dodger remembered about his teleportation. He pushed off the ranger, and they circled around each other. Many rangers were seeing this little wrestling match. Dodger brought up both hands, gesturing the ranger to come at him. “Come on ranger, you started this, lets finish this!” The ranger stood up, almost blending in with his background, causing Dodger to squint to see him.

    “Next time don’t ask us for our names. We say if we want to!” The ranger suddenly ducked down, and completely vanished. Well that was unfair! Dodger crouched low to the ground, allowing his suit to do its work as well. Dodger caught a glimpse from time to time seeing him, and he was always looking the wrong way. Suddenly he stood up, sweeping around. Dodger saw him, and ran full sprint at the ranger, intent on tearing him apart. Suddenly the ranger ducked, and Dodger swiped air. He quickly looked back, and crouched, hoping the ranger didn’t see him. No such luck, for the ranger was closer than Dodger realized, and charged full sprint at him. Dodger waited, he could have easily evaded, but he wanted this stuck up ranger to realize whom he was dealing with. He waited, and the ranger jumped. Dodger crouched, and the ranger reached for Dodger’s head. Dodger smiled, and teleported behind the ranger. The ranger fell face first into the ground, and all the other rangers acted like those people in a theater, reacting to whatever, taking in quick breaths. Dodger did not give the ranger on the ground any time to react, and teleported right behind the ranger, intent on riding the ranger. The ranger saw too late of his mistake, and tried to go after Dodger. Unfortunately, this ranger was way out of Dodger’s class. They clashed, and the ranger fell under the weight of Dodger. Dodger flipped over the ranger, and grabbed his arms, pulling him along with Dodger. Dodger brought him up above his head, and was about to slam him on the ground until another ranger jumped straight into Dodger, making Dodger drop the ranger he had over his head. The crowd jeered and scoffed and hollered. Dodger quickly got up, looking for the defiler, and saw him looking over the ranger. The ranger looked weak, but Dodger saw he was just playing. The ranger over him said,

    “Stop this Thyler! He didn’t mean offence!” Thyler did not listen to his fellow ranger, and pushed him aside, taking out his dagger from under his cloak. This was something different, and Dodger no longer found this a game. Dodger braced, waiting his time, and pulled out his own sword at the very last second. The crowd realized how dire a situation this was, and no longer made any sound. It was deafening. Dodger waited, waiting for Thyler to make his move. Thyler did, and went in low to try and get under Dodger’s suit. Dodger was ready, and brought his sword down to protect. Dodger knew that he was going to fake the low, so at the very last moment, Dodger brought the sword up, and managed to deflect the knife coming straight for his neck, sending the knife high, and exposing it to everyone. All the rangers started booing at Thyler. Thyler didn’t care; he wanted to finish this up starter. He charged again, and brought his knife up high, keeping it there. Dodger almost laughed. This ranger was trying to fight Dodger up close and personal. Dodger easily parried the blade, and tackled Thyler. Suddenly that other ranger was in between both of them. He put his hands between Thyler and Dodger. Dodger immediately stopped fighting. He knew that Vos wanted him here for a reason, and testing him like this was pathetic. A ranger’s friend was his bow, not his dagger; Dodger knew that much, and he also proved it to all the rangers assembled to watch this little battle. The ranger in between, realizing that Dodger was stopping had to put an arm up on Thyler, keeping him at bay. Dodger sheathed his sword, and the rangers started to disperse. Thyler started yelling curses at Dodger, and then looked at the ranger keeping him at bay.

    “Benji why do you do this?! This animal has no place in our home!” Dodger shook his head. He was here by invitation, by Vos as well. Dodger figured most rangers would respect that, obviously not Thyler. Dodger quickly remembered what happened. He was in Geuten, a little south of Heartless Mansion. He was just doing what he always did. Accept peoples contracts, someone wanted a bandit who was unwelcome in Geuten killed, and Dodger accepted it. He was camping out in Geuten, when he felt something weird under his bed, like a stone. Dodger opened the covers to show a stone with a note tied to it. Dodger undid the paper from the stone, and realized the paper was folded up. He unfolded it and it read,

    Hello Dodger

    You have been summoned by the Ranger Corps on the approval of Vos, to go north of Geuten towards Heartless Mansion. The Ranger Corps leader, Vos, would like to speak with you in a manner of money speak. If you accept, go up towards the door of Heartless Mansion, and speak the password, Cogito Ergo Sum, to the guard. He will let you in, and you will not have to speak the password again, for the guard will remember you.

    There was no signature, or whom this was from. Just said his name and what he was supposed to do. Dodger decided he would do it, and luckily enough for him, that bandit decided to stroll into Geuten. Dodger teleported quickly to kill the bandit, hoping to get this done, killed the bandit, then left to go to Heartless Mansion. The rest seemed like a blur, he was too excited for actually being able to go to Heartless Mansion. Course he said the password, went inside, and was immediately told by a ranger to go sit somewhere, and wait for someone to collect him. Dodger found a comfortable spot on a seat, and while he waited he must have dozed off. Dodger halted his memory recollection. He did not like reminding himself of Guy Magician and his failed trick. Dodger shook his head again, and Thyler had put away his knife, still glaring at Dodger, barely receiving what Benji was saying. All he heard was that of Benji explaining to Thyler that he had to get used to some sort of change. Thyler was arguing with Benji, still, Benji was getting somewhere. Thyler’s knife was not waving all over the place, instead his hands were. Dodger thought that enough was enough, and went over to Thyler, moving Benji lightly out of the way. These rangers were short.

    “Look, Thyler,” Dodger raised his hands, not sure if he pronounced the name right. “It is Thyler right?” Thyler nodded, Dodger relaxed, and looked around, bobbing a bit to show a bit of relaxation to Thyler. “KK good, I don’t exactly want you mad at me,” Dodger held up his hands again to show a sort of dramatic pose. “Look, Benji is right, there are always different people out there in the crazy world that we know of, and I would consider myself as one of those abnormalities,” Dodger was grasping straws, but he was able to get Thyler relax. “Consider me an idiot sure,” Thyler smiled at that. “But you have to admit, I can handle a sword very well,” Thyler merely chuckled. “Yeah but if we were doing a bow battle, I can tell you who would win,” Dodger didn’t want to get into his bow, so he merely smiled at Thyler, of course no one could tell he was smiling because of his mask, but he made it wide enough to hopefully give Thyler and Benji the impression of smiling. Benji merely looked at Dodger. Thyler smiled, clapped his hands, and then simply walked away. Benji looked at Dodger, and said,

    “Did you just say KK to Thyler?” Dodger shrugged his shoulders. It seemed like the best thing to say, for it would Thyler, he needed something to feel good about himself. Benji shook his head, still not exactly believing how Dodger was, and he held out his hand. “Well, where are my manners. Hi! My name is Benji! I am the ranger for Grimdale,” Dodger decided to put that away for memory. All rangers had a town or city to look after. Dodger saw something hanging on Benji’s belt. Benji looked where Dodger was looking and realized why Dodger was looking there. He unhitched it, and gave it to Dodger. “Don’t play with it, but it is a radio for us rangers to communicate easily and quickly. A bit of old communication, besides the everyday newspaper or pigeon,” Dodger nodded, still marveling over how this radio worked. He wanted to disassemble it, and he looked at Benji, asking permission. Benji nodded, and Dodger looked around the thing, looking for some way to open it. He found something, and tried to force it open, it opened, but blindingly fast. It was so fast Dodger was rushed with images he couldn’t comprehend, and suddenly toppled, unable to hold his brain together. Benji tried to catch him, unsuccessfully, and called medic. By then Dodger had actually regained his memory and waved aside Benji. He did not want anyone to help him. Benji still looked concerned about Dodger, but waved everyone off. “What happened?” Benji asked the still dazed Dodger. Dodger wasn’t sure, he tried to regain the memories that he had, which wasn’t that many that were lost. Just his encounter with the magician, his message from Vos, the recent fight with Thyler, and of course, Dodger trying to open this weird piece of hardware. Dodger inspected the radio, completely spherical, and saw that the place where he had attempted to open was now utterly sealed. Dodger shook his head, marveled at the technology of this radio. Dodger handed it back to Benji, and as soon as he did, more memories, not of his, came rushing into his mind. Decomposed faces, green and with black eyes flashed into his vision, chasing humans. Large spiders, skeletons and creatures with four legs also flashed into his mind and the most terrifying of all these images? A lone human being chased by a horde of zombie looking things, and the human was running full sprint, zombies staying right behind the human. Dodger tried to grab at his head, but realized his helmet was on. He looked at Benji, and quickly said,

    “Don’t look at me!” Benji turned around quickly, and Dodger threw off his helmet, grabbing his head with his hands, trying to stifle the memories that were running freely through his mind. Dodger almost screamed in pain of the amount of memories until suddenly, they stopped. It was like someone snapped, and everything cleared. Dodger quickly looked for his helmet before he would dwell on what he saw. He quickly glanced at Benji, who still looked away from Dodger. Dodger was grateful, and slipped his helmet back on, righting it so his eyes fit perfectly with the eye sockets. Dodger looked around, and saw that other rangers had their backs turned as well. Dodger forgot other rangers were in the room, yet they respected Dodger of his privacy in not showing his face. Dodger tapped Benji’s shoulder. Benji looked, saw that Dodger had his helmet on, and relaxed.

    “What happened?” Benji asked, unsure of the random freak attack Dodger had, nor about what happened after Dodger attempted to open his radio. Dodger looked at him, unsure of what to say. Dodger stood up, Benji taking a lot less time to do so as well. Dodger looked around, taking in his surroundings before answering Benji. The rangers were continuing on their business, but were dispersing a little at a time.

    “Nothing much, just had something enter my head,” Dodger did not want Benji to be concerned about memories entering his head. “It is gone now. Guess it was a hit and run technique,” Dodger chuckled. Benji still did not look convinced, and was about to ask another question until he looked behind Dodger. Dodger looked to, and saw a ranger standing there with the girl ranger that had told Dodger to follow her. Man it was so hard to recognize faces through that hood! Dodger looked over at Benji who simply nodded. A nod paid the highest respects to the lands most skilled archer? Dodger wasn’t sure what to do, so he just waited for Vos. Dodger assumed he was Vos. The person-who-Dodger-thought-was-Vos stuck his hand out and said,

    “Hi, my name is Vos!” All right, Dodger thought, that explained Benji’s nod. Dodger stuck out his hand, and shook Vos’ hand. Benji looked at Dodger in surprise, and the ranger girl did the same as well. Wait, did Dodger do something wrong? Or did most people from the outside lick Vos’ boots? Vos chuckled and waved Benji away. Benji left, along with the ranger girl. “Come Dodger, let us talk in my office,” All right, Dodger thought, he is the most skilled archer in the land, and he has a tiny office, probably four by four by four. Dodger smiled as best he could, and Vos understood what Dodger was trying to say. He led Dodger towards his office, which wasn’t very far actually, and opened the door. He entered the room first, and then Dodger entered after Vos, closing the door behind him. Vos was sitting, and gestured Dodger to sit. Dodger, thinking it wasn’t polite to sit in front of the most skilled archer in the land, sat down anyways. Dodger remembered to watch where he was treading. These guys were tolerable, but you had no idea where the line was with them. Dodger interlocked his fingers, resting his elbows on the table.

    “Alright Vos, you called me for a reason, so let us get on with business. Why did you call me here?” Vos looked at Dodger, then got up, Dodger stayed where he was. Vos looked at a painting depicting a sunset over rolling hills. Beautiful art. He looked over at Dodger.

    “The maker of this painting is unknown,” Vos said, lightly tapping it. Dodger kept looking at him, not releasing his fingers. “Much like my Ranger Corps. No one knows we are here, yet we still work in the background, making sure that everyone remains safe,” Vos sat back down, and peered intently at Dodger. “What I hope is that we can possibly do business to make sure that this land stays away from the control of the bandits,” Dodger looked at Vos, unlocking his fingers, but instead crossing them on the desk.


    “What kind of business?” Dodger asked, peering intently at Vos as well. He knew a businessman when he saw one, and Vos wanted to get things done efficiently and effectively.

    Back to Top
  4. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 3: Contract]

    Vos merely smiled at Dodger. Was he amused? Dodger could not tell, in fact, the stupid hood that the rangers wore was getting on Dodger’s nerves. All the rangers did was wear the hood; you couldn’t see their face, their eyes, sometimes and not their mouth even. Were they human? Did they understand what everyone did? And more importantly, could they. Dodger then decided to ask about the hood, because he was curious.

    “Vos, just before we get started, I must ask a couple of questions,” Vos looked at Dodger, and then leaned forward. You could barely see his mouth forming a smile under that stupid hood. He gestured with his hands for Dodger to continue. Dodger smiled lightly then spread out his hands. “How did you know I was in Geuten trying to kill a random bandit of old from a few years back?” Vos leaned back in his chair, putting his arms around his head, smiling still. Hey you could see his nose this time. That was a good sign of him being human.

    “I knew because I have a ranger based in Geuten,” Vos nodded towards the door, and a different ranger, if you could call rangers different, their stupid cloaks looked the same, entered the room. “This is Ram,” Dodger looked at Ram, who just stood there. Dodger waved his hand slightly, and Ram nodded. Well what the heck? Since when did he get the official nod of rangers? He was just a soldier. Then again, Ram… No, Dodger did wave at Ram before Ram nodded. Dodger simply shook his head and looked back at Vos, who held his hands out, still smiling. “What?” He chuckled. Dodger waved his hand,

    “Nothing. Next question,” Dodger realized Ram was still in the room, and looked over at him, slowly, but deliberately. Ram realized what Dodger was meaning, looked at Vos real quick, and then back at Dodger. Dodger lowered his head slightly, and Ram quickly slipped out of Vos’ office. Dodger looked back at Vos. “Alright, next question is why on Minecraftia do you guys wear those hoods?” Dodger pointed at the hood Vos was wearing, the pointed at his helmet. “This is for a reason because I want to remain incognito, but yours is just out there,” Dodger put his hands in a sort of painting frame gesture. “It actually gets annoying because you can’t see a face. All you see is a shade,” Dodger pointed back at his helmet. “Whereas mine has a face,” Vos leaned towards Dodger.

    “We can smile without having to force our cheeks to the extreme,” he said, leaning back to his seat. Dodger held up his hands.

    “Okay, okay, I’ll give you that. But at least you can tell emotion with my mask,” Vos laughed. Dodger realized how stupid that line was and simply shrugged. Dodger, hoping to change the subject just a little bit, leaned back in towards Vos, his arms resting casually on the table between them.

    “The main question I have is why did you send for me?” Vos reached out his hands, in a welcoming gesture. Dodger suddenly became afraid. He hoped that Vos would not be asking him to join. Sure Dodger would be honoured, but Dodger started liking his form of life, even if it did result to a mistake. Vos brought back one hand, waving his other hand to emphasize his point.

    “I know of the events that happened at Carnival. I stationed a ranger there whom I am not going to reveal his name to you until you meet him. He was doing his first assignment there,” Vos spread his hands out, pushing himself off the table, looking back at the sunset painting. “Point is, he came back as soon as he could after you burned down Guy Magician’s tent. He told me everything that happened, and I decided to put that away for memory,” Vos looked at Dodger, the shade under his hood almost gone and Dodger could see his eyes very clearly. They seemed very stormy and very old. How old was Vos? “Turns out my hunches were right. I heard rumours about a mercenary who could teleport, killing off the remains of the Bandits,” Vos looked back at the painting. “For once I felt like my Corps was not something that the king wanted to exclude, but instead have us accepted, have the people like us for helping them,” Vos chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “However, I feel like a massive cataclysmic event will make them understand the rangers,” Vos looked back at Dodger, smiling. He went over to his seat and sat back down, interlocking his fingers. “Alright, here’s the scoop. This is a contract, by a person who values the use of rangers. However, I don’t have any rangers to spare, and the one who I would call is actually at Consilio University, doing research,” Dodger leaned forward, curious.

    “What is he looking at?” Vos smiled, and leaned back.

    “He is curious about our king. He saw the king in person, and is checking the textbooks to see how we depict our fair king,” Vos chuckled, swinging in his seat. “It is his personal project. That’s all,” Dodger looked suspiciously at Vos, the memories of those weird creatures, especially the four-legged one, creeping into his mind. Vos looked at Dodger, noticing his uneasiness. “Dodger, you okay?” Dodger nodded, waving his hand.

    “Yeah I am fine,” Dodger shook his head, resisting the urge to tear off his helmet, and also trying to quench his memories. Vos looked at Dodger. Dodger realized he couldn’t hide everything about his memories, so he decided to tell some of it. Dodger was about to, then decided at the last moment not to say all of it. “Its nothing. Just some memories ran through my mind while trying to open that weird radio that is hooked on your belt,” Dodger pointed at the radio, and Vos looked at it, obviously forgetting that he had it strapped to his belt, took it out gingerly.

    “This is very old technology. We use it to the best of our knowledge,” Vos strapped it back on his belt. “You speak into it, and anyone on that frequency can hear you. Some scholars believe this is old magic. Us? We just use it as best we can,” Dodger did not like the sound of this radio. Why would you want it? Why would you need it? Sure if you had a big organization such as this you would need it to communicate on the fly, but when your by yourself? It would just get annoying. Vos chuckled. “No I do not plan on giving you one, nor do I plan on inviting you into our Corps. What I want is for you to go around accepting contracts that our employers ask of us. The rest is taking care of,” Dodger looked suspiciously at Vos.

    “So, you are wanting me to become a merc,” Vos nodded.

    “Basically,” Dodger looked at Vos still suspiciously.

    “How much am I paid?” Dodger shouldn’t have been concerning himself with money, but he felt that this Vos would give him money either way, or the contractor would pay the money for the Corps.

    “Well the Corps is being paid a lot, but we don’t need it. We are supported by the king himself, so you will get three-quarters of the pay,” Dodger nodded, liking that deal, these guys got supported by the king himself, hurrah for them. So if Dodger got three-quarters of the pay… Vos answered that question in his head for him, “If you are wondering how much you will get, you will get about ten diamond blocks,” Dodger stifled a quick intake of breath. Ten diamond blocks? That was valuable. Dodger imagined what he could spend with that amount of money. Mansion, food, new technologies, retirement, women… Dodger drew the line at women. No woman would be crazy enough to marry a teleporting psychopath. Dodger brought his focus back to reality. Vos was looking at him, expecting an answer from Dodger. Dodger took a second, and then nodded his head. He reached out his hand to shake Vos’ and Vos shook his hand. Dodger smiled as best he could through his helmet, and stood up quickly. Vos was even faster. How did those rangers do that?

    “You will need to teach me how to do that,” Vos looked confused, and Dodger held his hands out, looking at Vos like he was crazy. “How you get up so quickly. You are faster than me, and I stood up before you,” Vos laughed, understanding what Dodger was asking.

    “Look, you are a cool guy, but I am not giving you crazy ranger style skills along with your teleportation,” Dodger mocked laughed. He did not like to be reminded of his teleportation unless he decides to remember it. He let Vos slide with telling him a ranger saw the whole thing, but bringing it up without Dodger? That was not cool.

    “Vos, let me just tell you something,” Dodger flashed as quickly as he could towards Vos, making Vos stumble from surprise. Vos may be the leader, but in Dodger’s world, anyone who pissed him off, pissed him off. They would face the consequences accordingly. “You never bring up anything about my teleportation unless I bring it up. Clear?” Dodger asked, raising a finger in front of Vos’ hood. “Only discuss it if I bring it up. I don’t like remembering that day when Guy infused me,” Vos nodded quickly. Good, Vos knew that Dodger was not as tolerable as he seemed. Vos also knew that Dodger could easily finish him. Dodger asked, “Where am I supposed to go and what am I supposed to do,” Dodger backed up, allowing Vos to brush himself off,

    “Just don’t do that around my rangers. They won’t hesitate to kill you,” Dodger laughed. He wasn’t surprised; any follower would do the same for their leader. Dodger merely looked at Vos.

    “Yet you forget, that I only dashed towards you, I didn’t unsheathe my sword. And if I wanted to kill you, you would be dead,” Vos nodded, agreeing with Dodger. “So what am I supposed to do?”

    Dodger arrived at ‘The Spire’ as Vos called it. They had to take a ferry across the water to get to The Spire. Dodger could see it from land. The placed reached high up into the sky. Dodger was having a tough time believing that humans would actually make something like that. Dodger reached back to when he was twelve, taking a short trip far up north towards the Floating Islands. It was a school trip, and that was when adventure urged for Dodger to explore the islands. Now some parts were closed due to the bridge being out, this place was falling apart. But the bridge to the massive island in the middle was still opened to tourists. And especially school groups. However, the little stunt that Dodger pulled made the Floating Islands shut down completely. What did Dodger do? He went beyond the red ropes, and jumped to a different bridge to a different island. He had to have a rescue team come after him, and they shut the bridge down after the school left.

    The Spire was much more grand, and much more vivid. Dodger was having a tough time making his mind understand what he was seeing. Of course it was real, but it was so unrealistic that he couldn’t comprehend it. Dodger was left behind as tourists populated the entire set of the Spire. So many people here, Dodger kept forgetting that he wasn’t the only person here. Dodger strolled up the staircase, keeping his hand on the railing. It was a big drop, and that drop was staggering. Of course Dodger could just teleport, but he did not want to have to do so with another person. Last time he tried to teleport a person, it did not end well. He tried teleporting them through his hand with them, ended up taking the hand off the poor person, his second-in-command. Dodger finally reached the top of the Spire, awaiting his orders from the ranger who was there temporarily. Dodger looked around, and saw a ranger and a man in iron armour, his helmet in his hand, looking out towards the sunrise. Dodger was surprised when the ranger turned, for Benji was in fact there.

    “Holy crap, Benji? Is that you?” Benji smiled, clapping his hands. He brought up his hand, and put it on Dodger’s shoulder. Dodger did likewise.

    “Good to see you man. I left to come here as soon as I could. Vos told me too over the radio,” Benji brought down his hand. Dodger did the same. “Don’t mirror me it’s weird,” Dodger apologized, looking past Benji towards the man still looking at the sunrise. His right arm was holding his helmet, and his left hand… Dodger recognized that metallic hand. Dodger was super surprised. He could not believe who this was. Benji noticed Dodger looking at the soldier, and Benji clicked his tongue. “Ah yes, this is our employer, his name is Jason. A very good soldier of the king,” Dodger could not believe it, but Benji told him the name. Dodger went up beside Jason. He looked at him, and put his hand on his shoulder.


    “Hey Jason. Long time no see, eh?” Jason looked towards Dodger, a scar running down his face. He smiled. Dodger’s second-in-command was back, and his arm looked as good as ever!

    Back to Top
  5. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 4: Reunion]

    Jason held out his arms, dropping his helmet. Dodger realized that Jason wanted to embrace after not seeing him for so long. Dodger smiled, then opened his arms too, and caught a swift blow straight to the jaw. Dodger was knocked down from the massive blow coming from Jason’s left. Dodger looked up at Jason.

    “Still slap like a weakling,” Dodger said, rubbing his mask to keep it from falling off.

    “Well, well, well! He lives to tell the tale!” Jason said laughing. Dodger had to go under his helmet to rub at his eyes. Tears were forming; the punch hit Dodger harder than he had originally thought.

    “You’re a jerk Jason,” Jason laughed, a full hearty laugh, and reached his left hand down towards Dodger. Dodger looked at it, the robotic hand was a stiff reminder to both Jason and Dodger about what they had attempted to do. Dodger grasped Jason’s hand, and memories flooded to him in an instant.

    “Dodger!” Dodger kept walking. He did not want to see Jason, nor did he want to see anyone of his squad. He was not going to explain why he burned down Guy Magicians tent, nor was he going to say what happened to him. Dodger kept walking, forcing Jason to have to jog to keep up. “Dodger hey man, come on! It wasn’t the Guy’s fault!” Dodger stopped abruptly and ended up close-lining Jason. Jason was taken completely by surprise and ended up on the ground in an instant. Dodger stood over him.

    “He promised that he would not do anything bad to me Jason! And he said it in front of everyone else!” Dodger kicked Jason, not happy. Jason stayed there for a bit, holding his stomach. Then slowly got up. Dodger turned around and left Jason. Jason stumbled beside him.

    “He didn’t mean to infuse you Dodger! It was an accident,” Jason stumbled, and Dodger teleported back, worried about his friend. This guy may be a soldier, but him and Dodger had been through many adventures together as soldiers. That’s why when The General asked him who was to be in his squad Jason was his first pick.

    “Jason, you’re going to hurt yourself,” Dodger said gently, laying Jason on the grass. Or trying to, Jason was trying to get up to take a look at Dodger.

    “Seriously dude, I do not like when you teleport like that,” Dodger chuckled, offering his hand. Jason pushed it aside, and got up quickly. Dodger threw his hands up in playful protest. “Hey doesn’t mean I still can’t fight!” This was a challenge, and a weird place to do so, a few feet from the border of Carnival, in the middle of nowhere. Dodger knew what Jason was doing though; Jason wanted to relax Dodger. It worked, and Dodger charged at Jason. He knew he could not match Jason. Dodger may be the better sword fighter, but Jason was a different division from Dodger. Jason charged as well, and Dodger braced, waiting for Jason to take him down…

    What Dodger did not expect was Jason to go down instead, and Dodger would not even feel it. Dodger plowed into Jason, throwing Jason off his feet and making him slide a few feet away from Dodger. Jason’s hands were in a fettle position. He coughed, choking in the process.

    “Goodness Dodger, when I said fight I didn’t mean murder!” Dodger looked at himself. He looked at Jason. Jason simply looked up at Dodger. “Your eyes have changed. They aren’t green anymore. They are a very dark blue!” Dodger looked at himself again. His helmet was off, the teleportation obviously throwing it off, and Dodger’s old bow was snapped in half, the string barely holding it together. His sword was okay, and the armour was in shreds. Weird, Dodger would definitely have to make a different set of armour. And he would also have to hide his eyes. Jason was still on the ground, and Dodger grabbed Jason’s hand, and snapped back to reality.

    “Sheesh Dodge, your eyes never change!” Dodger realized that his eyes reflect his emotions. Dodger steeled his eyes, and saw an orange light reflect lightly off Jason. Jason simply slouched a little and mocked surprise. “Oh there we go, is that eye thing by will?” Dodger embraced Jason. It was a while since he had seen him. Dodger looked over at Benji, standing there, waiting for Dodger to finish meeting his old friend. Dodger looked at Benji. Benji merely raised his hand.

    “Your kidding me with the hand raising thing aren’t you?” Benji laughed and lowered his hand. He had a question and Dodger knew it immediately. “What’s your question?”

    “My question is,” Benji said, turning around and looking at the sun, fully over the horizon. “Why are you called Dodger, Dodge?” Dodger was about to say that he was always called that, to try and stop big mouth Jason, but Jason beat him to it.

    “He wasn’t always called Dodger. His real name is Henry Barkov. He got the name Dodger from dodging an arrow from his father,” Benji looked at Jason, then Dodger, wondering why Dodge was actually the target of the father.

    “I stumbled upon the firing range by accident, and my dad had let go of the arrow when I did. I merely ducked down, I didn’t dodge,” Dodger said, he had this conversation way to many times with Jason. Jason merely chuckled.

    “Right, and he hollered and whooped until he made the dead walk,” Jason said, making Dodger and Benji smile. Dodger’s dad was actually a very loud and sometimes drunken man.

    “Well I have another question Dodger,” Dodger looked at Benji, and waved his hand, allowing him to continue. “How did you and Jason end up being soldiers in the castle?” Dodger chuckled, holding up his hand in front of Jason.

    “What happened was that I had actually run away from home, because my dad was an all out idiot. I stumbled upon Jason, who was just traveling around, and got separated from his family, heading to Cole Castle. I knew where Cole Castle was, and brought him there,” Dodger said, and Jason merely nodded. Sometimes Jason would say he found Dodger, and Dodger was lost. “There we signed up, and they saw a certain talent within us,” Dodger said, and Jason stepped forward.

    “Plus we sparred with each other, attuning our senses. He had a certain strength and so did I, so they paired us for teaming so well with each other,” Dodger shook his head.

    “Worst years ever,” he said, smiling at the thought of all those hard and brutal training sessions. Jason looked over at Dodger in bewilderment.

    “I’m sorry but I believe you had quite a bit of fun back at the castle!” Dodger looked at Jason, trying to murder him with his eyes. This was an age-old scandal.

    “I didn’t even get into a bed with her Jason!” Benji held up his hands, not following one little bit.

    “Hold up, hold up. In bed with who?” Benji asked, and Jason threw up his hands. Dodger waved Jason away.

    “Uh, well a rumour went around the guard that I had sex with the princess,” Benji’s eyes went wide with massive surprise. Dodger would have to explain why this happened, and for Benjis sake.

    “Dodger! That is against the law! You could’ve been hanged, or the king would’ve been ‘off with yer head!’ style!” Benji pretended to pop off his head with his finger. Dodger held up his hands trying to slow down Benji.

    “I know, but it was not my fault,” Dodger delved deep within his memory, to try and remember exactly what happened that weird night. Dodger shook his head; he was getting way too many flashbacks.

    Dodger looked over at Jason, clad in iron with chainmail as his chest plate. For some reason the king wanted four guards to be their ‘attendees.’ Now when the king meant attendees he meant people who stood in the four corners of the feasting hall to make sure everything ran smooth. Jason was across from Dodger, and Dodger was busy signing with him, or trying his best. Jason did a sign of calling the members here fat. Dodger looked around, and a few people were in fact fat. The couple that was not was the king and his daughter. Dodger looked at Jason, trying to sign, ‘Not everyone,’ Jason got it, and signed, ‘Most of them are. Of course I bet you are looking a little more south of the princess.’ Dodger took a stabbing glare at Jason. Jason held up his hands, and the king looked over at Jason. Jason brought them down quickly, placing his hands on his sword, in the ready position. The king, satisfied, went back to eating a massive chicken breast. Dodger looked at the king, then at Jason. He tried placing his hands in a holding manner and stuffing in his mouth. Jason looked at Dodger in a quizzical look. Dodger signed, ‘they eat lots of food,” He bit his teeth at the end to try and make the sign of food. Jason gaped his mouth and nodded his head, understanding. Dodger nodded, pointing at his helmet, then at Jason. Dodger looked back at the table, and then looked at his apparel. He was the only known guard who actually kept his equipment in good shape. Dodger made sure his helmet was on straight, and then happened to look at the princess. She was licking her fingers quite dramatically. Dodger looked at Jason, and motioned his head towards the princess. Jason held his hand up to his face to mask his smile. Dodger could see it extending beyond the palm of Jason’s hand. The princess quietly whispered to her father. Her father nodded, then looked at his daughter, speaking to her loud enough for Dodger and Jason.

    “Just remember to take a guard with you to your room. I am sure that we will be safe with three guards,” The princess nodded, and pointed at Dodger. Dodger looked at Jason worried, and Jason motioned with his hands for Dodger to continue. Dodger made a face at Jason, and the oak doors shut behind him. Him and the princess walked the corridors. Dodger had to stay in front to show the princess to her room. She was idly chatting.

    “This castle was actually made by my father’s father when no Bandits were around,” she looked at a painting. “This was made by a very famous artist, and it was so well done that people think the god J!NX did it. But that was baloney,” Dodger forgot what baloney was for a second. Was it meat? The princess looked at Dodger from the side. “You don’t talk much do you?” Dodger looked at the princess, stopping.

    “I am not talking because I am leading you to your room by order of the king,” The princess walked in front, her hands behind her back.

    “Please, big bad daddy won’t hurt one of his best guards,” Dodger looked at the princess. She just disgraced him by calling him a guard. He was a soldier, and a good one at that.

    “I am a soldier. The reason why he wouldn’t kill me is because he would send me on suicide missions until I died,” Dodger looked at the princess. She waved her hands beside her face.

    “He’s not that cruel” Dodger looked sideways at the princess. She held out her hand. “I should probably introduce myself. I am Veronica,” Princess Veronica. Well all right then. Dodger went past her, leaving her hanging.

    “My name is Dodger,” he said, and Veronica chuckled.

    “That is a silly name,” Dodger stopped at looked at her. She was acting weird, and he did not like it. How old was she anyways? Twenty? Twenty-five? Dodger had no idea, but obviously around his age. Veronica batted her eyes at Dodger.

    “It is my name. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have introduced myself with that name,” he looked and saw that the room was very close. Thank goodness he could be rid of this crazy princess. Was she trying to get him in trouble? Most likely thing she would do was doing something weird with him, and then say he took control of her. Dodger walked a little faster to try and get her to her room. Not noticeable. She looked at Dodger, walking straight alongside him.

    “I didn’t mean offence. I just didn’t expect a name like that,” They finally reached her room, and Dodger opened the door for her.

    “Here is your room ma’am,” Veronica looked at Dodger, smiling a little bit. Suddenly she leaned her head forward a bit. Good job Dodger you are about to be kissed by a princess and you put your back against a wall. Suddenly someone cleared his or her throat and Jason was standing, barely containing a smile.

    “I am sorry to interrupt you princess, but I need to collect Dodger. Kings orders,” Veronica nodded, and Dodger slipped past her. Dodger looked behind, and saw her slip into her room. Jason threw his arm over Dodger’s shoulder. “You little bachelor you!” Dodger shook his head and tried to explain to a person who was not receiving of an explanation.

    “And yeah that’s what happened,” Dodger, Jason and Benji were sitting on the floor, listening to Dodger’s story. Jason was staring at the ground and Benji was processing what Dodger said.


    “So you are saying that Veronica, the princess, was trying to kiss you, and Jason saved you at the last moment,” Dodger looked at Jason, who was crouching, looking at Dodger. Dodger looked back at Benji and nodded his head slightly. Benji looked at Dodger, and raised his hand, palm up. “Did you know that Princess Veronica has been missing for five years?” Dodger looked at Benji quizzically, not sure what to think. The princess was missing? And why? Dodger looked down the Spire quickly and saw two men slowly walking up the stairs.

    Back to Top
  6. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 5: Healers]

    The princess was missing because? Benji went to explain that. Apparently, five years ago, the princess went into a recent argument with her dad, concerning the bandits. Her father was brutally slaughtering them, making them an example to the other bandits. He put them in the gallows, chopped their heads off, mounting them on flagpoles, and torturing the rest for more information on the other bandits. That was a much more troubling time, and Dodger himself had seen a few hangs of his own. Not pretty. Then Benji said that one day, the princess dressed herself in one of the more infamous bandit cloaks. She wore a dark red hood, the uniform of the Hooded Bandits. These guys were the best of the best. One thing that people knew though, that at the time, they did not recruit women into their ranks. What they did was revolting, and those with faint of heart would leave long before they got to the worst. Dodger sat back, listening to Benji. He delved into his memories, remembering a hanging. He let his memories consume him, until he realized his mistake too late.

    Dodger looked down, and saw his hands were not his hands. He was in a prison cart, four police in with him, his hands bound in chains, all scruffy and dusty. Plus he didn’t remember himself as Dodger, but as Carl Fern. He was a scout for the king. He was supposed to give information on bandit movements. However, he was caught talking to the other side, giving off troop movements for the king, and he was trailed, for a public hang. Carl looked outside, and saw the walls of Cole Castle looming before him. It was a massive castle, but this would be the last bit of outside he would ever have the chance to experience again. He wished the sun were shining, instead of hiding behind dark storm clouds. He buried his head in his hands. He cried.

    “What did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything wrong!” One of the policemen scoffed at Carl. He looked upon Carl, but Carl would not meet his gaze.

    “You were tried with providing surveillance to the Bandits. Consider yourself lucky you can die quickly,” Carl thrust his head deeper in his hands, sobbing and bobbing.

    “It was not my fault!” Carl sobbed. He looked at the policeman, tears streaming down his face. “The leader was going to kill me!” The policeman laughed. He looked at Carl.

    “You already pleaded, and the king does not accept traitors in his jails!” The policeman sat back. He obviously said this conversation was done, but Carl did not like it. He felt alone, and lost. What did he do to Notch to deserve this? He didn’t cheat on his wife, he followed and served his king, and now he was being threatened with being tried by simply trying to save his life. He was literally going to return to the king with the information he had from the bandits, and relay them to the king. Carl looked at the policeman.

    “Who told on me?” The policeman sat back. Smiling.

    “So you finally admit it,” the policeman chuckled, obviously enjoying this. “His name was Samuel Andaloro,” Samuel Andaloro. He hated him beyond belief. That guy was out to kill him. He looked at the officer.

    “Whom did he talk to? No one trusts Samuel!” The policeman chuckled. He leaned forward, tugging the chains of Carl, making him move forward. Drama much?

    “He reported to Scarath. And Scarath reported it to the king,” that was terrible news for Carl. Scarath found any way to go against Carl. Carl looked up at the policeman, putting his hands to his face, pleading.

    “Please, w-wa-was there someone who vouched for me?” Carl asked. The policeman was surprised by this, and looked up to his right. He was searching his memory.

    “There was actually,” the policeman said at last. “He is Dodger. He said he worked in your squad that you reported to,” Carl knew who Dodger was! He was very friendly. “However the king is not listening to him as recent news of him having sex with his daughter went amuck,” Carl’s hopes were destroyed almost immediately. Dodger had sex with the princess? This was terrible news, and showed how good his friends were, no wonder the king didn’t listen to him. It was all Dodgers fault! Carl was very angry and refused to talk to the policemen anymore. Instead he looked to his left out the small barred window. They had passed the gates, and many people were out in Cole Castle. They were on the last level, and people were throwing rocks and rotten fruit at Carl. One policeman held everyone back. Carl put his head back in his hands. Carl wished he were more ready. However he was more scared than he ever was in his entire life. His life was in the hands of one man, the king, and the king was not allowing him to live. Carl looked out the window again. They had stopped for some reason. Carl looked at the staircase. He realized where they were going, and it was not going to be fun for Carl. The door opened and Carl saw two guards pull him out roughly. His chains were disconnected a little too late, throwing him back towards the cart. The guards laughed at him. Carl didn’t care. He lost his dignity when the king signed his death. Carl looked at the staircase, and faced his fate. He walked up it, the guards right behind him, holding onto his chains. Suddenly Carl was about to reach the very top when a guard pulled at his chains. Carl slipped, and tumbled down the stairs a little bit until he ran into one of the policemen. The policeman beat him, making him bleed. Carl curled up in a ball, waiting for the beating to stop. Finally it did, and he was forced to his feet. He felt hot blood running down his face. The guards laughed at him again. He spit blood on the ground.

    “Watch it! He might infect you!” One of the guards teased. Carl wished he could. The guards shoved him, and surprisingly enough, the king was there. His crown upon his eyebrows, his face was bulging with fat and muscle, but his eyes showed deep sadness. Carl could understand why. This guy was dealing with so much. He looked at Carl, and looked back towards the audience below. He held up his hands, the crowd went quiet. He spoke softly but firmly.

    “You are all here today,” he began, raising his hands for drama. “Because this man betrayed us and tried to give information about us to the enemies. Thank Notch Scarath happened to receive news of this, and inform me immediately,” Scarath was smiling cruelly. He did hate Carl. Carl looked amongst the crowd, and saw Dodger talking to Jason. Dodger did not look happy. You could see his green eyes all the way from here, shining brightly and intelligently. Suddenly Carl realized that Dodger had not had intercourse with the princess. Carl would’ve jumped for joy, but the king would not listen to him. Not now, not anymore. The king held up his hands again. “You will now see Carl Fern, Private First-Class, and leader of Scouting Battalion Alpha, hanged!” The king held his hand up towards Dodger direction. “And also praise Henry ‘Dodger’ Barkov, Sergeant Third-Class, the leader of Soldier Squadron Omega, for confirming us of this,” Carl was so surprised he broke down crying. Dodger told on him? This was terrible. Now Dodger was on perfect terms with the king. Carl was raised to his feet. When he refused to get onto his feet, he was dragged. He saw two muscular arms dragging him to the stand. They propped him on his feet. He looked over and saw Scarath there, with the noose in his hand.

    “I am going to enjoy this,” Scarath whispered in Carl’s ear. Carl did not like the sound of that. Carl lowered his head, mixed with emotions. He lost, regained, lost, regained then re-lost hope all in a span of thirty minutes. Good job Carl. You got yourself caught, trying to protect your life. You should have just refused Carl; it would’ve been better. He felt the noose go around his neck, and then tighten. Everyone was quiet. Not a word was spoken. Then they started chanting,

    “Pull, pull, pull, pull, PULL! PULL!!” Scarath was showcasing Carl. Carl was tempted to kick it himself to get it over with. Suddenly Scarath stepped forward and thrust the lever forward, dropping the floor below Carl, that Carl actually screamed, then had his voice cut off from the noose, making a chocked gasp. This caused the crowd to cheer and jeer. Carl kicked and tried to shove his hands around the noose to allow himself to breath. He was suddenly scared of dying. He panicked, his mind turning his vision red. He tried to get his feet on the rocks beside him, but he couldn’t reach them. Carl tried to reach the nearest rock with his hands, but his vision was going dark, until suddenly he couldn’t keep his eyes open, his lungs bursting from the lack of air, until suddenly the world slowed down to a hazy daze, and everything went black.

    Dodger woke from the memory, disturbed, and frightened. Two medics had come to meet them, and Jason, Benji and the two medics were standing up. Dodger quickly got up and Benji smiled.

    “Ah, finally, Dodger is up!” Benji said. He turned towards the medics, gesturing towards one. “This is Pius, he has been here for a bit waiting for you Dodger,” Dodger shook hands with Pius. Pius looked very excited to see him.

    “It is an honour sir. I read up about your castle life, and man must it have been exciting!” Pius smiled a big hearty smile, making Dodger feel like this was his number one fan. Thank goodness his mask masked what Dodger was feeling at the moment, because he felt like his face betrayed his emotions a little bit. Pius gestured towards the other healer. “And this awesome guy is my teacher,” Pius leaned in towards Dodger. “He is also my teacher,” Pius mumbled, leaning back. “His name is Nutty, and he would very much like to meet you sir!” Dodger looked at Nutty, who seemed a little calmer than Pius. He looked at his pack, and noticed a familiar design he had seen in a demonstration at the castle. He pointed at it.

    “I am sorry to inquire Nutty, but is that a parachute?” Nutty looked at it and smiled at Dodger.

    “You have a good understanding of new technology Dodger!” Nutty patted his bag. “This is in fact a parachute, and I hope to never use it!” Dodger looked puzzled at Nutty. He asked,

    “Then why do you have it?” Nutty chuckled at Dodger, he raised his hands a little bit to emphasize his point.

    “I haven’t tested it yet, so I hope I never have to!” Nutty said, making Dodger wonder how sane this guy actually was. Dodger looked behind him and saw the sun setting. Felt like a very long day, and Dodger was ready to do this contract of his.


    “So who was the contractor?” He asked, wanting to get this out of the way. No one spoke for a second until Jason stepped forward a little bit, and pointed at himself. Dodger looked at Jason, stunned. “It was you?” Jason nodded. “Well, alright then. You will need to explain to me what the contract is then, so that we may complete it,” Dodger looked at this crew, and realized they might actually help the world regain its footing from the Bandit Wars.

    Back to Top
  7. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 6: The Contractor]

    Jason pulled out a map. Standard for all high-ranking soldiers, always remember to have a map on them. Dodger didn’t need the map from the king himself. He had literally memorized every part of the map. Jason laid the map down on the table in front of them. He pointed at a point, which was the Spire on the map.

    “This is where we are,” he said, pushing the map a little, making it wrinkle. “There have been many reports of bandits coming here, however an old bandit group has resurfaced from the Bandit Wars,” Jason pointed at Dodger. “Which we have both been a part of,” he said, pointing at a different point on the map, a little north of the Spire. “These reports are coming from people who have seen bandits amassing here, of course I don’t really believe them because they have all had some shrooms at least once,” Jason happened to look up his map and noticed Pius holding a half eaten mushroom in his hands. Dodger looked at him, tilting his head back a little bit.

    “Is that a red mushroom?” Dodger asked Pius. Pius looked at the mushroom a little guiltily and held the rest up towards Dodger. Dodger shook his head after a second, and put Pius’ hand down. Pius went back to eating his ‘shroom.’ Dodger leaned on the small table, “So what is your plan?” Dodger asked, and Jason looked up to meet Dodger’s eyes. He looked at the map.

    “Based off what some of my scouts have said, they are camping around the Ridgevale Shack, a little north-west of here,” Jason pointed to that point on the map. “My plan is that we send Benji in, and he will gain their trust, or ask to join them. Then when we attack in three days time, it will give you enough time to befriend the bandits. Then hopefully we can crush the remaining bandits,” Dodger looked up at his old friend, then at the robotic arm. A memory resurfaced in his mind.

    “Dodger, how far can you teleport?” Jason asked, walking alongside him after meeting him in Romero in a hotel. Dodger jumped at Jason’s voice.

    “Dang it Jason knock next time!” Dodger yelled, totally surprised at him. Jason held up his hands, trying to hold back a smile. Dodger got up from the bed, his iron armour decomposing as it were. Dodger looked around at himself, his bow strapped over his shoulder. “I never really tried to teleport far. I believe I could go pretty far though, as long as I know where I am teleporting,” Jason sat in the chair across from Dodger, his chin on the little placement he put on his hands.

    “That would be awesome!” Jason said, lowering his hands, and spreading them out to emphasize his point. “It means no more walking! Who knows! Maybe you could even teleport other people! Entire battalions!” Jason said, still keeping pace with him. They were heading back to Cole Castle to hopefully debrief the king on what happened at Carnival. The entire squadron scattered after Guy infused Dodger with his abilities. Dodger looked at Jason off the corner of his eye. That did not amuse him, teleporting other people.

    “I can teleport myself just fine dude, but I have zero idea whether or not I can teleport other people,” Dodger said, still walking, making sure that Jason had to jog to keep up with him. Why was walking so much easier for him now? He felt he could lift his weight four times over. Thank you Guy Magician, traveling trick master and destroyer of lives. Jason interrupted his little daydream.

    “Then let us test the theory!” Jason said. They had finally arrived east of Anvalia, and Cole Castle was in full loom. Jason and Dodger were on the hillside, overlooking Cole Castle. Dodger looked over at Jason, Jason had his arm out. “Come on! Just a simple teleportation! We will do a test run first!” Jason seemed so confident that it would work. Dodger remembered long ago, in the Aeternalis Cathedral, that Jason had a sort of hubris. That he would believe anything would work, and that it was best to try, and he could easily convince others. Now with that in mind, Dodger grabbed Jason’s hand, then pictured teleporting a few feet ahead of them. Dodger’s vision did the weird thing it did when he teleported, and he was a few meters closer to Cole Castle, but still on the hillside. Dodger looked over at Jason, realizing his hand was still holding onto Dodger’s. Dodger was smiling, until he looked over. Jason was not there, instead Dodger was holding on to a limp hand, blood dripping down on the ground. Suddenly Dodger heard Jason scream a blood-curdling scream, and Dodger looked behind him. Jason was staring wide eyed at the little stump on his left hand, blood oozing out the top, and you could see the bone barely under all that blood. It was dripping down Jason’s hand, and Jason’s mouth was wide open from shock. Dodger was super surprised to, and felt a lot less safe teleporting now. He ran towards Jason, and picked him up, blood leaping into his face and Jason’s, and getting his armour all red. Adrenaline was rushing through Dodger, and he ran as fast as he could towards Cole Castle, to try and find the healers there. He was yelling along with Jason. Dodger quickly looked back at the scene, and saw the hand turning green, and pussy.

    Dodger snapped out of his memory. Jason was asking him a question, and Dodger was daydreaming on the job. He shook his head and looked up at Jason. Jason looked down, his eyes peering upwards at Dodger.

    “Dodger, I asked you a question, and I will explain and ask it again. Benji can’t do it, he says, for the bandits will recognize him because,” Jason pointed at the cloak Benji was wearing. “Of his cloak. Then he suggested you,” Jason pointed at Dodger next. “Go in, because you will look like a really cool bandit, and people will actually except you easily,” Jason, said, putting down his hand, then bringing up his robot hand. Dodger allowed this flashback to take him and he shot through a tunnel this time, seeing Jason on the bed and the medics working over his hand. They were making calculations. Suddenly Dodger saw himself and realized he was seeing a memory from the other perspective. Dodger was sitting there groping at Jason, unable to bring himself to talk, just sitting there by his bed and hoping everything was okay. All this happened in a flash for Dodger and he blinked, realizing that Jason was folding up the map. It was time to go to Ridgevale Shack.

    Dodger heard a wolf howl. Why on earth did they plan on doing this at night? That howl was followed by three other howls, and Dodger could hear the gnashing of teeth nearby. It made Dodger sick that some people would tame these animals. These things were out to kill you whether you liked it or not. Dodger shivered under his suit. This thing had many perks, but it did not have a heat pad or anything. Dodger kept running in the snowy tundra, and heard the soft padding of feet. He quickly turned around and let his eyes sweep the horizon. He saw shimmering orange outlines of wolves, circling him. Dodger drew out his sword and let it sing in the air. The wolves snarled and Dodger quickly looked back. He saw a person standing outside the shack, snoozing. Great, if Dodger died no one would be able to find him, nor would the guard even hear him screaming for help just in case. The wolves were wary of his blade, but Dodger knew they would attack eventually. He was right, as one wolf stopped. Dodger turned his sword towards it, realizing too late his mistake. The wolf to his right jumped towards Dodger. Dodger rolled with it, landing on top, and Dodger swiped his sword across its neck. The wolf cried out in agony and the other two wolves snarled. Dodger kept his sword in his right hand, his left ready to punch any wolf that came near. Suddenly the two wolves went to either side of Dodger, and a new wolf came out from the trees. Great, four wolves and Dodger only got a quarter of them. Dodger kept his sword out, readying for the next attack. Suddenly one wolf barked and ran at Dodger. Dodger ducked, swiped his sword towards the new wolf, and rolled away from the last one. Wolf #1 collided with Wolf #3, making them both yelp with surprise. Wolf #2 collapsed from the amount of blood gushing from its chest. Dodger rolled on his feet, and saw the two remaining wolves snap at each other. They then both turned at Dodger at the exact same time, scrambled to their feet, and both pounced at Dodger. Dodger held his sword up, and it went through Wolf #1. Wolf #3 missed the sword and landed on Dodger’s face. Dodger landed on his back with the wolf on top of him, and Wolf #1 limping into a moon patch, dying there, with his sword still in it. Dodger shoved for control of the wolf’s head that was on top of him. The wolf snapped at him, and Dodger brought his hands up in defense. The wolf snapped, and Dodger caught hits mouth. The wolf snarled at Dodger, and Dodger kicked the wolf as best he could. The wolf was unfazed, when Dodger finally grabbed hold of the back of the wolf’s head, snapping its neck in a resounding thud. The wolf went limp and Dodger shoved it off him. Dodger looked at the mess of bleeding wolves around the tundra. Dodger stumbled away, and went towards the wolf that still had his iron sword. Dodger went to it, and was about to take it out when a hand reached his sword first. Dodger looked up and the snoozing guard was there. He hit Dodger on the head, making his vision go dark, and the last thing Dodger remembered was the night sky.

    Dodger woke up in a musty little cottage. He looked around, and had to let his eyes get a little used to the low light. He looked around, and jumped smashing his helmet against the billboards above his bed. He saw a face, looking a little crazy, and a little bit of puss was on his face as well. Then he looked away from him and motioned a hand towards the other bandits in the room. Dodger made sure his helmet was on, which it was. Dodger looked over, still rubbing his head, and saw the guard who knocked him out. Dodger looked, saw his sword in the sheath of the doctor, who Dodger was assuming was the doctor, and grabbed it. The sword came out easily, and Dodger tackled the snoozing bandit who hit him on the head. Snoozy and Dodger took a bit of a tumble, until snoozy shoved Dodger off.

    “Enough!” A man said, authority in his voice. He strolled out of the darkness, and Dodger saw a hood covering all but his mouth. The hood was almost jet black with a shimmer of red. Dodger was with Hooded Bandits. Dodger slowly got up, only to be punched by the bandit leader. Dodger stumbled, but righted himself. The bandit looked at Dodger, then looked away. “Why are you here?” He asked Dodger. Dodger looked at him mildly amused.

    “I came here to join you,” Dodger said, remembering the story that he had to say. That he was from Bazel.

    “I see,” the leader stopped, and looked at Dodger, his hands behind his back. “And where did you hear about us being here?” He asked, still strolling. Dodger stood right where he was.

    “I heard it from Bazel. Figured it was my opportunity,” the bandit leader gestured for Dodger to continue. “That it was my opportunity, to gain better status, wealth, power, women. The works!” The bandit leader strode behind Dodger, and Dodger quickly turned his head to look at the bandit leader. He continued strolling until he came in front of Dodger. He looked at Dodger in the face.

    “And why Bazel? Especially when no one went to Bazel to spread word of us!” That was a big kicker for Dodger. Jason’s Intel was a little off. He thought they had gone to Bazel for recruitment. “So I believe you are lying, and now you must die! Wolves don’t scare us, but they sure do scare you!” The bandit leader backed up, and at least seven bandits drew out their swords. Dodger still had his in his hand. He waited for what seemed like ages until one bandit started screaming, and went after Dodger. Dodger chuckled, then ducked under the blade, stabbing the bandit in the chest. He rolled over top of him, and swiped, downing two bandits on the legs. Luckily this cabin was small, so Dodger jumped up on the wall and vaulted off it, running into two other bandits. He scrambled with them for a little bit till another bandit came up and grabbed Dodger by the shoulders. Dodger kick-flipped off the floor, and broke the arms of his two assailants. He jabbed one and stabbed the other in a quick flurry, then vaulted off the one to his left. He brought up his sword, and stabbed the doctor through the mouth, causing him to gasp as blood started to swarm out his mouth. Dodger turned and saw the rest of the bandits flee the cabin. Except for the bandit leader. He did not look happy. “You will now DIE!!!” He yelled, and drew out his own sword. This sword looked… different. It wasn’t iron or diamond, but looked like something forged from the nether.

    Before Dodger could inspect it, he swung. Dodger ducked under, and swiped, but was parried. Usually that worked with most bandits, so Dodger jumped-rolled, bringing his sword down at the bandit leader. The bandit leader jumped back, and Dodger went on the offence, attacking from above, the side, and even trying to kick out the bandit leaders feet. No such luck, until suddenly the bandit kicked Dodger in the gut. Dodger stumbled back. The bandit leader swung his sword over his head, then down at Dodger, and Dodger teleported behind the bandit leader. The bandit leader elbowed Dodger, and Dodger stumbled back away from him. He was pressed against the cabin walls. Dodger had a plan. The bandit leader strolled towards Dodger. Dodger smiled.


    “Hasta la vista!” Dodger jumped up, and kicked off the wall, allowing his teleportation to give him a dash. He brought up his legs, and kicked the bandit leader, smashing him in the chest, and then propelling him towards the wall. The wall broke under the quick acceleration, and the bandit leader hurtled towards the water, at mass velocity. Dodger was left alone. His contract was complete, and now was the time to go to Jason that he had to improvise based off bad Intel. Boy Jason was not going to be to happy with Dodger.

    Back to Top
  8. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 7: Visions]

    Dodger slowly went down the snowy and icy hill. Although he had gotten a little used to the Ridgevale terrain, any little slip on this ice could be mutilating, or even fatal. He got back to the flat part of the mountain where he fought the wolves. Other scavenger animals had come around and feasted on the parts left from Dodger. Dodger held his breath. The wolves stank of rotten flesh. He had his eyes squinted, almost crying from the smell. Whenever you were in the heat of the moment, you usually didn’t smell this stuff. Dodger looked around at the wolves, and was about to move on, until he heard a strangled bark. Dodger stopped, eyes wide, and looked behind him. A wolf was turning a weird green colour, its fur falling out. It was having a very tough time trying to get back up. Dodger looked closely at it, and realized this wolf died from the iron sword Dodger used. Dodger looked at it, completely fascinated. It was alive, yet Dodger had seen the thing limp off into the moonlight, and die. The wolf snarled, took two steps forward, then collapsed. It started breathing heavily, like it was fully dying. Then its eyes went far and unseeing. The wolf was now truly dead. Dodger looked at the other wolves, and these had the same problem. They were trying to get up, but were not able to support themselves. Yet a couple hours ago, these wolves were actually dead, killed by Dodger. Dodger shook his head, not understanding. He did not believe wolves could become undead, yet these four wolves tried to become undead wolves. Dodger quickly turned and ran up the mountain. He wanted to get to Ridgevale as fast as he could, and get away from these abominations.

    Dodger slowed his pace, remembering the fatal drop on either side of this mountain. The wind was blowing furiously by the time he got up to the top, and Dodger was shivering. These conditions were not ideal to Dodger. He never signed up for the soldiers of Cole Castle for anything like this. Then again, Dodger was no longer a soldier of the castle, but a soldier of the people. Did he ever get a simple thank you from the king? No! Maybe Scarath was right to deviate from the king. No, that was not right either. The king did his best to keep everyone safe. Dodger finally arrived at the top of the hill, and saw a few lights on at Ridgevale. Everything seemed to be well, until he looked forward, and saw a weird creature he had never seen before. It was hard to see it due to the massive wind and snow blowing along the hillside. Dodger was having a tough time seeing, and he squinted. The thing was tall, shorter than him, and had four legs. The thing moved a little closer, and hissed at him. Dodger’s eyes widened, and suddenly his mind was taken over.

    Dodger woke up, looking around. There was gravel everywhere, and he could see the volcano in the distance. He looked up and saw a grand tower, stone and bricks flying around it, when suddenly the thing gave away, the bricks and stones falling to the lava below, and the tower capsized. Dodger looked at it wide eyed. How could something so massive and magical just fail! Suddenly Dodger was whisked again, and he blinked hard. He looked around, recognizing Romero. The city was in ashes and ruins. The place being attacked by bandits, and townsfolk were running away from the city. Dodger ran to help them, and ended up running to mines, where bandits were forcing villagers to mine ores in the ground. Dodger went for his sword, and looked down, seeing it wasn’t there. He looked back up, and noticed nothing. There was nothing, but empty. He looked around, feeling his feet touching a floor, but Dodger could not see it. Dodger looked up, and jumped. Jason was standing there. He was looking at himself, when suddenly he convulsed, his eyes looking around frantically. Dodger looked down and yelped, but no sound came out. Jason’s legs were disintegrating under him, and were sweeping up his body. Jason cried out, but no sound escaped his mouth, when suddenly his head expanded, and the unknown virus swept to his face. It took off his skin, showing his muscles and eyes. Jason screamed, his skin turning into particles, then his muscles, showing his bones, the skeleton clearly visible. His fake hand dropped to the ground, and Jason fell, his skeleton self, losing its other hand. He fell, and his bones fell apart. When Dodger looked at the skull, the skull clattered into Dodger’s brain, making Dodger close his eyes. Suddenly he was falling, seeing green things running after people, people fighting back. Tall creatures with the teleportation of him attacking and killing people, the weird four legged creature exploding, and skeletons using bows against their victims. Dodger couldn’t control it, and the last image he saw was a few humans, raising their swords, in victory. Dodger suddenly opened his eyes, and noticed he was back at the gravel part. Everything was quiet. He slowly got up, trying to process what he saw, when he suddenly heard a voice.

    “All you hope to achieve,” he heard it behind, but it whispered to his left, echoing throughout his brain. “Will have been for nothing,” again the voice did its reverberating effect. He looked behind himself, and saw two pale unseeing eyes. “You cannot win!” The eyes went straight at Dodger, and Dodger scrambled back, falling. He lay there for a bit, trying to register what he just heard. Dodger slowly got up again, bashing his hand against the gravel. Dodger looked up, and saw something come out of the dirt. The head was massive, and was continually rising. Dodger looked up, and saw a massive creature, that looked like the green things he had seen in his vision, the ones chasing the humans. The giant brought up its foot, and stomped the ground, yelling into the air, making Dodger’s eardrums hurt. Dodger fell to the ground, trying to get rid of the sound. He looked up, and saw a massive foot coming straight towards him. Dodger prepared for death, closing his eyes.

    Dodger was startled awake. He saw blue sky above where he was. The wind and snow had stopped flowing over the mountainside. Dodger quickly looked up, hoping the creeper, which he had seen both in his visions and here, wasn’t still here. Dodger looked around, seeing nothing, and instead seeing the sunrise. Dodger put his head in his hands. What did he just see? Dodger looked up again, seeing no one, took off his mask. The light went straight to his eyes, and Dodger enjoyed it. He loved seeing the sun clearly through his real eyes. Dodger sat there, enjoying the scenery from up here, and contemplating what he just saw. He sat there for a bit, thinking, when he decided to get up. He put on his mask, and looked around, seeing no one. Satisfied he started walking down the hill. He walked a few steps, when he turned around, sensing a presence. He quickly turned around, ready, and stopped, tilting his head. In front of him, his cloak waving slowly was a ranger. Not a ranger Dodger had seen before though. Dodger waved his hand, and the ranger slowly came closer. Not sneakily, just normally. He arrived, and his hood almost concealed most of his face. Dodger could still see some features under the hood, knowing that this ranger he had not seen before. The ranger pointed towards Ridgevale.

    “I think you and I may wish to go that way,” he said quietly. There was no need to shout up here, for the mountain was quiet and un-blowing, except for a slight breeze. Dodger leaned a little closer to the ranger, unsure if he had seen Dodger take off his helmet.

    “Uh, ranger,” Dodger said, tilting his head forward, “How long have you been here?” The ranger mused for a bit, then raised his hand a little. He was human from the looks of things.

    “I just got here,” he replied to Dodger, and Dodger smiled. He looked at the ranger.

    “What is your name?” Dodger asked. The ranger chuckled, and then pointed behind Dodger.

    “Vos sent me to check up on Benji, Jason and you. But from the looks of things,” the ranger gesture his head behind him. “You had everything figured out it,” the ranger lowered his hand, making it disappear under his cloak. Dodger tilted his head again.

    “Your name, ranger?” Dodger asked again, and the ranger looked right back at Dodger.

    “I know you are Dodger. So I will introduce myself,” the ranger bowed slightly, and looked up at Dodger. “My name is Pyros. I was sent by Vos to check up on your work, then possibly travel with you for a bit,” Pyros said, extending his hand in greeting. Dodger shook it, and Pyros looked over Dodger’s shoulder. Dodger looked behind him, and saw Jason, Benji and the two healers coming up the mountainside. Dodger remembered his vision, and hoped to Notch that nothing like that would happen. Pyros walked forward, and put his arm on Benji’s shoulder. Benji did the same, his hood down, but Pyros’ hood was still up. Obviously these rangers knew each other, but Dodger could not listen in on their conversation. Jason walked straight up to Dodger, along with Pius. Pius started looking over Dodger, and Dodger looked at Pius with a little distaste. However, as long as Pius didn’t do anything funny or try to open his armour, he didn’t care. Jason came alongside Dodger, and looked behind him, talking. Dodger looked Jason. Jason looked at him, and lowered his head.

    “What happened Dodger?” Jason asked, not sure on what happened exactly. Dodger was a little ticked off.

    “Your Intel was off Jason. The Hooded Bandits never went to Bazel. I ended up having to improvise,” Dodger was having a tough time focusing. The visions of Jason becoming an ash and skeleton mix protruded into Dodger’s brain. Dodger widened his eyes a little trying to distil the memory. Jason nodded his head, looking away from Dodger, and reached into his pocket. It was Dodger’s payment for completing his job. Dodger looked at surprise with Jason. How did Jason get that many diamond blocks? “Jason,” Dodger inquired, pointing at the blocks. “How did you get so many of those?” Jason chuckled at Dodger, looking at him with an amused face.

    “Didn’t you hear? I became lieutenant when Scarath left,” Jason explained to Dodger and Dodger widened his eyes, blinking in the process and nodding his head. That was impressive of Jason. Jason put it in Dodger’s hands, and Dodger put it away. Pius was done his overlook of Dodger, and was still smiling.

    “Well Dodge!” He said, extending his hands. “You are A-Okay!” He said, and Dodger smiled, thanking Pius. Dodger looked at Pyros and Benji, and saw them looking at Dodger, with Nutty behind them. Dodger looked at Jason after observing them all.

    “Well Jason, it was great meeting you again. I think Pyros and I are heading back to Vos,” Dodger looked at Benji, and Benji nodded. Dodger shook Jason’s hand, and was starting to leave when he looked up a little. He was considering something, when he looked back towards Pius. “Pius,” Dodger called. Pius looked at Dodger. Dodger gestured if Pius would like to come. Pius eyes extended, and he looked at Nutty.

    “How ready do you think I am Nutty?” Pius said, obviously excited. Nutty pointed at his brain.

    “You got it all up here man!” Nutty said, and then lowered his hand. Pius smiled, and picked his gear and followed behind Dodger and Pyros. They started looking east when Dodger heard something to the left. Not to disturb Pyros or Pius, Dodger looked left. In the shades of the trees from the short distance they walked, Dodger noticed a wolf. The wolf’s eyes were jet pack, and it was having a tough time standing. It kept walking, until it finally fell over, exhaling its final breath.


    Dodger and the crew finally reached Heartless Mansion. Romero was a nice town, and Pius was sucking it all in. Many people were friendly, the marketplace was open, and all Dodger felt was dread. Bandits would possibly attack this place sometime, and he would be helpless to defend them. Dodger looked around the city, and then everything was a blur as they crossed the bridge into Carmi, then arriving at Heartless Mansion. They walked up to it, and the guard nodded at Pyros and Dodger, but held up his hand at Pius. Pyros quickly explained, and Pius was allowed to go in. Inside he took a while taking it all in again. Dodger guessed it wasn’t everyone who could easily get in. Pyros took Pius on a tour, while Dodger went to Vos' office. Seeing no one there, he relaxed in the chair opposite where Vos sat. Dodger sat there, falling asleep, dreaming and revising what his visions told him, and what he could possibly do to try and prevent them from happening. Dodger was having a tough time accepting what the visions told him, and he wished that he could at least depict what was happening. His dreams haunted him with the visions. A man was telling him of failure. Dodger saw Agni Ignis, and saw people cheering at two combatants. Suddenly one combatant died, and crowd cheered, until the combatant woke up from his death, and mercilessly slaughtered the other combatant, making Dodger shiver.

    Back to Top
  9. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 8: Short and Silent]

    Dodger looked around. He was in the empty place of a vision, yet his conscious knew he was dreaming. He looked around, unsure on what to expect around him, especially since the area around him was totally black, and unrecognizable in any way. He turned and saw the pale floating eyes again. He went for his sword, but his sword was not on him, and that really annoyed him. His bow was here and he drew that. The pale eyes shimmered and Dodger’s bow suddenly just dissolved. It dissolved in the exact same particles that dissolved Jason in Dodger’s vision.

    “Interesting,” Pale Eyes whispered, the reverberating effect not present. “You are in more control of your mind than I thought,” Pale Eyes said, circling Dodger. Dodger followed the eyes, making sure he was always facing them. Were the eyes spinning around him a little faster? “Your mind is that of magic, but foreign magic, and I still have minor control over it when you sleep,” Pale Eyes stopped suddenly, and the entire room felt like it tipped. Dodger slipped and went flying, feeling the force of the wind and some ground under him, but he could tell where he was going, until suddenly he had the weird sense of flying, and the ground under him vanished. He went flying for a bit, and then the land of Aeronaean exploded from under him. Dodger tumbled, and instinctively teleported safely to the ground. Pale Eyes flew right in front of Dodger, and Dodger could hear a soft laugh. “Impressive Dodger!” Pale Eyes exclaimed, bobbing up and down. “You have mastered your teleportation skills! Now how to use them?” Pale Eyes said, laughing at his own joke, which wasn’t very funny at all. Dodger tightened his fist.

    “And yet,” he said slowly. “You still forgot about one important point,” before Pale Eyes could pounder, Dodger slammed his fist as hard as he could in such a short space straight towards Pale Eyes. Pale Eyes went flying and for a second Dodger was alone. Dodger looked around, and noticed that the land was turning to ash, become bleak, rain falling lightly, and washing away the ash. Wait, why were the raindrops washing away the ash and showing glass gleaming through. Dodger suddenly shrank and he squeezed through the minor hole before him. He fell through and landed feet first on rolling hills. He realized he was near Agni Ignis, for when he went up to the top of the hill, he saw the massive combatant stage. It was utterly massive from this distance, and was incredible at close up. Dodger stood there pondering for a second until Pale Eyes floated alongside him.

    “Beautiful. Isn’t it?” Pale Eyes asked sincerely. Dodger thought it was a he, based off the pitch. He looked at Pale Eyes. Pale Eyes looked right back at Dodger. “This area,” Pale Eyes said. “Is sacred to Agni. He. She, however you want to view him, considers this a quarantine zone,” Dodger looked at the Pale Eyes in confusion. The Pale Eyes kept staring at him. “If ever you met an Apostle of Agni, they would not dare go near Agni Ignis,” Pale Eyes said, and Dodger looked off to his left, still looking at Pale Eyes.

    “Why is that?” Dodger asked innocently. “What’s wrong with Agni Ignis?” Pale Eyes bore into Dodger, making Dodger feel a little foolish.

    “Are you kidding me Dodge?” Pale Eyes said, informally, which confused Dodger. He went above Dodger’s head. “Instead of doing what your supposed to do there, which is worship me! The people of Aeronaean are blind to what I want, what they need to survive!” Pale Eyes shouted at Dodger at a rant, and Dodger tilted his head, crossing his arms, and having an amused smile on his face. Pale Eyes lowered a little.

    “Are you Agni?” Pale Eyes-who-is-Agni stared at Dodger, not registering what he said. Agni finally stirred.

    “I am not here at Aeronaean present, but instead my servant is relaying my voice,” Agni said, and suddenly Dodger’s vision warped, and he was snapped back to where he was snoozing on the chair. He stirred slightly, and rubbed his eyes under his mask again.

    “I gotta stop dozing off,” Dodger muttered to himself, shifting his position a little bit on his chair. He looked up at the ceiling, and was about to close his eyes, when suddenly the door slammed open and Dodger jumped again. “Notch dangit, Vos!” Dodger muttered and looked up, but not at Vos, but instead at Pyros. Dodger recoiled his head a little bit and stared at Pyros. “Uh…” was all he could muster out of his mouth. Pyros chuckled.

    “Yeah I’m not really considered with the leader of the entire Ranger Corps,” Pyros said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “But the thought is nice,” Pyros looked at Dodger and stuck his tongue out. Dodger knew that was going to happen and his hand expressed his emotion to that. Vos then came in and closed the door behind him, more gently than Pyros. He looked at Pyros and Dodger standing and rolled his eyes, his hood down. What Dodger saw was a bit startling, Vos had a massive scar, which blinded his eye, running down his entire face. Dodger took a closer look at Pyros, and saw Pyros face completely scar free. Something happened with Vos but Dodger had zero idea. Vos caught Dodger staring and quickly shoved his hood upward over his face, almost completely hiding it. Dodger held up his hands in an apologetic manner, and Vos nodded. He sat down and put his feet on his desk.

    “What happened at The Spire Dodger?” Vos said, either really upset at Dodger, or really impressed. It was kind of hard to tell. Dodger gingerly sat down, and put his hands on the table. He started explaining to Vos everything that happened. He described The Spire, meeting up with Jason, his old friend, along with Benji. Meeting up with Pius and Nutty, Dodger attacking the wolves in the snow, and having Mr. Snoozy knock Dodger out. Vos laughed at the little nick Dodger gave to the sleeping guard. Dodger continued, telling him that he played by the book to infiltrate and be accepted as a bandit, until it went wrong when Jason’s intel was off. Vos held up his hand. “That was almost unavoidable. Something would go wrong somewhere. The good thing is that you reacted well within the situation,” Vos gesture for Dodger to continue and then lowered his hand. Dodger continued, telling him the somewhat short battle with the bandit leader there, and Vos smiled at what Dodger did. “If he survived,” Vos said, leaning back, crossing his arms. “Then he will feel it tomorrow,” Vos gestured for Dodger to continue again, and he didn’t interrupt again. Vos was a good listener. He only commented when something amused him or impressed him, which Dodger was grateful for. He continued, and as he described the wolves resurrection. Vos just looked at Dodger. Dodger continued with seeing what he called a creeper, a thing that was tall and with four legs. Vos sat forward, obviously interested. Dodger said he didn’t remember what happened after, for Dodger thought ahead that he would not tell anyone of his visions until he was comfortable, and the last thing he remembered before meeting Pyros, was watching the blue sky on the hillside. Vos leaned back a little, and crossed his hands, obviously troubled. He looked at Dodger. “What you did with the bandits was what you were supposed to do. The wolves attacking you was a mere coincidence, and would’ve allowed you easier access into their ranks,” Vos flipped over his hand. “The problem I have is the report of your ‘wolves’ coming back to life,” Vos righted his hand and Dodger interrupted his train of thought.

    “What happened was they would resurrect, move a few paces, then fully die,” Dodger leaned a little closer to Vos. He whispered, “It was like as though they became undead,” Vos’ eyes went to calculation mode. Dodger had seen Benji and Pyros go into this mode. This was where they thought about the information given to them, along with trying to piece anything else together. Vos pointed at Dodger.

    “Did you meet someone else?” Vos asked, seeming to bore into Dodger. Dodger decided he would share his information about meeting Agni through a different person.

    “I did Vos. I met Agni himself. Well more or less, he was relaying his thoughts through a person unknown to me,” Dodger said and that’s when Vos snapped his fingers, figuring out something.

    “That is wrong. You must know this person a little bit or had skin contact with them,” Vos leaned a little closer. “Like brushing each other or something, or if you battled them. That’s what I mean,” Vos clarified and Dodger held up his hands.

    “Yeah I get it Vos, I don’t view it in a sexual way,” Dodger lowered his hands and Vos nodded. Dodger looked over at Pyros, holding his hand to his mouth. Dodger described what happened with his surprise visit from Agni. Vos listened well, and when Dodger was done, Vos stood up.

    “Well Dodger, I am going to say this. You will not get any more dreams from him because I have another contract for you. You will be going to Agni Ignis,” As soon as Vos said that, Dodger felt that something bad or even terrible might happen there. Dodger tried to decipher what Agni was saying. Maybe an Apostle of Agni was there? But that would not make any sense; Agni said that Agni Ignis was a quarantine zone. No apostle in their right mind would go to Agni Ignis. Dodger shook his head and looked at Vos.

    “Whats the contract plan?” Dodger was hoping for an actual explanation instead of Vos just saying, ‘go to spire, get contract from contractor, do what he says, go!’ Dodger saw something fly in front of his vision, just as Vos was speaking. He heard bits and pieces, until Vos asked,

    “Dodge, are you listening?” Dodger was actually bracing for whatever this thing was that was flying in front of his vision, his arms were mid-way up, and his eyes were darting left and right. He couldn’t follow it. He waited for a bit, then heard a little something to his left. Faster than the blink of an eye, he grabbed a fly right out of the air. The fly seemed to complain that Dodger was holding onto it, and eventually gave up, waiting for Dodger to release it. It didn’t have to wait long, and Dodger let it fly away free. He watched it until he couldn’t see it anymore and looked back at Vos. Vos’ eyes were wide with shock. When Dodger looked at Pyros, Pyros’ eyes were also wide, matching Vos. Vos was the first to speak.

    “How… How in Aether did you do that?” Vos pointed at the ceiling, obviously mentioning the fly. Dodger shrugged his shoulders a little bit. He had tuned his reflexes for battle, and he need to be quick and light on his feet at all times, and his hands had to annually stretch and move around. He also took regular naps to make sure he stayed awake and alert.

    “I don’t know,” he tried explaining. “I am just so used to being attuned to anything that is different from the regular flow of the room,” The fly returned, obviously not realizing Dodger was still here. This time Dodger showed no mercy as the fly flew a little too close to his eyes. Dodger grabbed it with his right hand and squished it mercilessly. At just that moment Pius came bursting through the door with the biggest grin on his face. He looked straight at Dodger.

    “Oh boy Dodger you have GOT to see this!” Pius seemed excited about something, and Dodger dropped the fly on the floor. He heard something else and stopped, looking behind him. Vos and Pyros went past Dodger through the door, but Dodger did not focus on them. Instead he walked slowly towards the dead fly. He heard Pius behind him. “Yo Dodge! You coming?” Dodger looked at the fly, focusing all his attention on it. The room seemed to get colder. Dodger looked at fly, when the fly suddenly jumped on its feet, making Dodger recoil a little. The little fly, which he crushed without mercy, somehow was resurrected. The fly went a few paces, and tried to fly around, when the wings gave out and actually snapped off, causing the fly to plummet. The fly seemed to squeal a weird gurgling moan, and fell on the ground, not ushering a single word.

    Dodger jumped as a hand grabbed his shoulder. He quickly looked behind and rolled his eyes, almost sighing. Pius was trying to encourage him to come.

    “Darn it Pius don’t do that to me,” Dodger chuckled and Pius slapped Dodger’s arm. He was smiling hardcore about something.

    “Come on this place will blow your MIND!” Pius extended his hands to his head, and when he said, ‘mind,’ he threw his arms away from his head, emphasizing his point. Pius ran out, and Dodger followed, closing the door behind him, and the undead fly.

    They walked down a few flights of stairs, until suddenly a massive room expanded out from them. Vos was standing at the very end, obviously the head table, and many rangers representing their towns were here as well. Vos showed his hands out from the massive room, curving up to the ceiling, and made entirely of stone brick, and cobblestone. Pius was still smiling.

    “What do you guys think?” Vos asked, smiling at Pius amazed bewilderment at the entire underground structure. Vos stepped off his podium and walked towards Pius and Dodger. “This is where all the rangers meet,” Vos put his arm around Pius. “As you can see, not all rangers have a town, but are respected throughout our corps,” Vos pointed towards Pyros, chilling in the corner. “Just like Pyros over there,” Pius went forward without Vos and took in as much as he could of this entire structure. Vos was smiling, and then turned seriously towards Dodger. “Now Dodge,” Vos put his arm around Dodger, turning him, and speaking quietly so that no one else could hear. “I will need to explain to you what your supposed to do at Agni Ignis. Come let’s go back to my office,” Vos looked behind him, and gestured his head towards the door at Pyros. Pyros seemed to blend in with the shadows, to the point where Dodger couldn’t see him. Dodger turned towards Vos.


    “I will also need to show you something when we get there,” Dodger felt worried, and Vos ushered him back up the massive flight of stairs. Dodger turned, and saw Pyros right there. When Dodger looked beyond Pyros, he saw Pius, having a very casual talk with all the rangers situated there. Dodger smiled, seeing that Pius fit in nicely.

    Back to Top
  10. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 9: Agni Ignis Cogeris Lyra]

    Dodger walked as quickly as he could to be first before Vos. Vos managed to keep pace with Dodger, which was impressive, and was kind enough to open the door for Dodger and Pyros. Dodger went to his seat, before squishing the fly that was there, and pointed straight at it. Vos and Pyros saw it immediately and walked towards it curiously. Dodger huffed.

    “This thing came back alive,” Dodger said, pointing his finger after every word straight at the fly. Pyros looked at Dodger unbelieving. Dodger scowled, though he knew that no one could see him scowl. “It came back alive, after I KILLED IT!!!” Dodger waved his arms in frustration, clenching his fists. “They are coming back after we kill them. Is that not a problem?” Dodger asked totally fuming. Pyros held up his hands to calm Dodger down. He turned over his hand, going to say something.

    “Do they stay alive after they are resurrected?” Pyros asked calmly, and Dodger ceased scowling, almost immediately. He tilted his head, looking down. He hadn’t remembered that the things died by themselves after their resurrection. Dodger shook his head, and Pyros lowered his hands. “Then there is nothing to concern ourselves with,” Pyros crossed his arms. “They die almost as soon after they resurrect. It makes cleaning up a little easier since they seem to decompose faster,” Vos nodded, agreeing with Pyros.

    “I have to agree with Pyros on this one Dodger,” Vos said spreading out his hands to try and still Dodger’s rage, which was full. “This fly would mean nothing compared to us, and just shows that nothing can come back alive without killing itself. So at the moment we are fine,” Vos said, and Dodger nodded, ashamed of his outburst. Vos was right, the fly died almost immediately. Vos went around the table and sat down. “Now Dodger, we have to discuss where you are going, so I will make this brief,” Vos leaned forward, interlocking his fingers. “We got a mysterious contract from a person calling themselves a mercenary. No idea the gender,” Dodger sat down, and Pyros sat in the spare seat next to Dodger. “What this contractor needs is a ranger from us. For some reason Tosh received the note, then gave it to me. He didn’t know who the person was who gave him the note, and he ran straight to us, not attempting to read this,” Vos lowered his eyelids in a calculating manner. “It’s very curious. But besides the point, I am sending Pyros, as he isn’t in charge of a town at the moment, and is right here talking to us,” Vos smiled at Pyros. Pyros nodded his head. Vos looked back towards Dodger. “You are to go with him, along with Pius, and make sure that Pyros either completes his objective, or you defend his life if he’s threatened,” Vos looked at Pyros. “Of course, I don’t believe you would have any trouble dealing with anyone, but still, just in case,” Vos said, and stood up, pushing himself off the table. Dodger got up and turned heading out the door. He needed to drag Pius away from the meeting room.

    The three of them walked for hours north. They passed into Worthington briefly to gather up food and supplies. Dodger knew the blacksmith who worked here, and quickly caught up with him. Dodger couldn’t stay long, so he made the visit short. When Pyros found him, they left and Pyros asked,

    “Who was that?” Pyros was evidently curious. Dodger kept walking, Pius was behind and Pyros was beside. Dodger waved his hand.

    “His name is Fredrick Barkov. He is a good blacksmith, and is pretty good with a bow as well,” Dodger continued walking. Fredrick also was the one to help Dodger shape his armour. Pyros, seeing that Dodger was done talking about the blacksmith, continued walking. Dodger looked to his left, and saw Cole Castle, looming in the distance. Dodger shook his head. Cole Castle, a place where he learned to become a soldier. It was also the place where he separated from Jason, to go to Worthington, and to become the mercenary he is.

    The crew continued walking, until they finally reached Agni Ignis. The sun had set and raised on their trip, so by the time the crew reached Agni Ignis, the sun was rising. Agni Ignis, it was utterly massive. Four massive structures, with the symbol of Agni on them overlooked a massive ring. The walls were utterly massive, and a massive stairwell went up to a door in the middle of the wall. A few stands were out on the open grass around the stairwell, and one person in some fire mage robes was outside. She was looking around, obviously looking for someone. Pyros took out the mysterious note that the Corps got. He nodded and put the note away.

    “Alright, that’s her,” Pyros explained, pointing right at the girl. Dodger didn’t notice her right away; just thinking it was another combatant. Dodger looked closer at her, and her hood fell, showing her face. Dodger barely got a glance before she righted it back up. Dodger looked over at Pius, who seemed to shrug.

    “Hey I don’t know. She seems as mysterious as you,” Pius raised his hands a little, knowing that Dodger was wondering why people did that. Dodger lowered his head, still looking at Pius.

    “No one is as mysterious as me,” Dodger said, extending his sword a little, and clicking it down on the handle. He received a quick smack on the head. Unknown of the defiler, Dodger looked up to see Pyros holding his finger to his mouth.

    “Quiet. We need a plan,” Pyros said. He faced away from the mage and looked out towards the horizon behind. Dodger and Pius were still crouching behind their rock cover when Pyros snapped his fingers. “Alright, I have an idea, it might be risky, but it might just work,” Pyros hustled Dodger and Pius closer, and explained that they would wait out here, and wait for Pyros to meet up with the mercenary. Then Pius would try and infiltrate however he wanted, and Dodger would just be a spectator. “Hopefully,” he continued. “We can act like normal people, and that a fight will be going on,” Dodger nodded, and so did Pius. Pyros broke, and then Dodger and Pius looked straight over the boulder, making sure Pyros made it. Pyros walked as casually as he could, but his cloak flowing in the wind made it difficult to actually see him walking. The girl saw Pyros and waved her hand, obviously recognizing the uniform. Dodger patted Pius on the back.

    “All right Pius, your next, try and get in, act as a healer for the combatants,” Pius looked at Dodger in horror.

    “Are you kidding me?!” Pius said, shocked. “Those combatants are always so sweaty!” Pius got up and walked towards the entrance. As he got closer to Pyros and the contractor talking, the contractor seemed to shy away from Pius. As soon as Pius passed, she continued talking. Dodger figured this was his chance. He started getting up and the contractor led Pyros to the entrance, a little behind Dodger. Dodger looked behind him, and saw a few people coming up from behind him. Dodger blended in with them, and they walked up the staircase to the arena.

    Dodger found a seat a little away from where Pyros and the contractor were sitting. They were talking, obviously about something. Dodger scanned the entire arena. He wanted a detailed perspective about where everyone was, and anyone new coming in. He sat there for a few minutes; saw a few people moving, including Pius. He was obviously looking for Dodger. Almost everyone was sitting however, and those who weren’t were either getting snacks or chatting on the top level of Agni Ignis. Dodger was still sitting there when Pius plopped down beside Dodger. Just as he did, everyone started hushing and entering his or her seats. Dodger looked over at Pyros and the contractor and saw them looking down at the arena. Dodger did the same. Dodger leaned back and put his hands behind his head, propping up his legs. He was going to act as casual as possible, and this was him in his habitat. An announcer came onto the arena, and held up signs. Dodger squinted a little to see, and saw that it was a person named Skimi versus Champion. Dodger assumed that meant the guy who was actually really good at fighting. The two combatants came out on the field. First it was Champion. He looked like a body builder, with an iron helmet and chain all the rest. He had a massive double battleaxe and it looked like it could do some damage. Dodger knew these types. Slow, heavy, and very powerful. Next Skimi came. He was shorter, smaller, and all the more sure of instant death by Champion. Everyone went wild for Champion, but everyone booed Skimi. Dodger rolled his eyes, very typical of any large crowd. Dodger looked over to where Pyros and the contractor were, and they were gone. Dodger’s eyes went wide. He patted Pius on the shoulder, maybe a little harder than he meant to, and ended up making Pius go flying a couple of feet from where he was sitting. He got up coughing, and annoying a few people.

    “Oh dude! Don’t ever do that again!” Pius muttered, getting up slowly, and shoving the few chairs that went with him off of him. Dodger grabbed Pius by the shoulders and lifted him up to eye level, dangling him off the ground.

    “Pius! Pyros is gone!” Dodger said shaking Pius. Pius grabbed Dodger’s arms to get him to stop. Dodger looked at his eyes and realized he couldn’t believe it himself. Dodger dropped Pius and looked behind him, moving a few chairs. Suddenly someone stood up right in front of Dodger, pointing at the arena.

    “Is that a ranger?” The bystander asked. A few other people stood up and pointed, accompanying her. Dodger looked over and his heart filled with dread. There was Pyros, with the contractor, and Pyros was over her shoulder. Skimi looked back behind him, and flame leaped from the contractor’s mouth, making Skimi back away quickly. He ran out the door from where Champion came in, and Champion was there. The contractor pointed at Champion then at Pyros. Champion nodded and took out his battleaxe. Dodger realized what was happening and started running to the edge of the arena wall. He ran over chairs, people, dogs and cats to try and get there. Near the edge, he took one wrong step, and tumbled down. When he finally stopped rolling, he saw blue sky. Dodger widened his eyes and got up, looking at the arena. Champion had his axe way above his head.

    “No!” Dodger screamed and jumped up in the air as hard as he could. He actually did get some air, and teleported, his vision getting the same feeling of warping, sharpening, and magnifying. He drew out his sword slightly and his vision snapped back to normal. He drew out his sword fully in the nick of time, and deflected the massive battleaxe heading straight for Pyros. The crowd jeered and booed Dodger, but Dodger didn’t care. He was protecting his friend. Champion seemed to go in full rage mode, and ran at Dodger, swinging his axe down. Dodger rolled out of the way, and Champion smacked Dodger, making Dodger fly. This man had some strength on him. Dodger skidded a little bit, with one leg up, and the other leg stopping his movement. His right arm went up instinctively, and Champion grunted. Dodger boosted off his right leg, then did a teleportation dash towards Champion. He vaulted off the ground and landed straight on Champions face. Champion batted off Dodger, making Dodger slam his head on the ground a few feet away from Champion. Champion walked up to Dodger, and laughed. Dodger waited. Champion rose up his axe and the crowd chanted,

    “Finish him! Finish him! Finish him!” Champion smiled, and tensed his shoulders, bringing the axe down. Dodger smiled, and teleported. Champion brought his axe down on air, and put it through the ground. Dodger had teleported behind Champion. Dodger went up, and cut his leg, making Champion fall on one knee. Dodger grabbed his jaw, and brought his jaw to meet the sword, cracking the bone and penetrating into the mouth. Dodger then went behind, climbed his shoulders, and snapped the neck quickly of Champion. Champion slumped, straight into the axe still in the ground. Dodger looked up at the crowd, when suddenly a firebolt slammed Dodger straight in the chest. Dodger flew, and hit the wall surrounding the arena, cracking his head. Dodger’s vision swam, and he saw the contractor walking over to him. Dodger was having trouble seeing, but he could see his armour protected him from the fire bolt. Good old magical suit. Dodger figured that the contractor would try and end Dodger, until Dodger caught something at the corner of his eye. Suddenly Skimi ran full tilt straight at the contractor. He jumped her, and started riding her. She tried firing bolts at Skimi, but Skimi was doing well at avoiding her. Dodger got up and picked up his iron sword. He went over to the fighting couple, and slashed the contractor’s leg. She fell, throwing Skimi off. She looked up at Dodger, panting. Her hood was down, and her short blonde hair sprang up. Her blue eyes looked amused at Dodger, with a tiny scar under her cheek. Dodger hesitated a little. She smiled, and Dodger smacked her on the head, knocking her out. Pius finally arrived, and Dodger looked at him.

    “Grab her. We are going to make her talk away from everyone else,” Dodger held up his hands towards everyone else. “Shows over folks! Please buy those little stuffed cats outside,” Dodger said, and picked up the contractor. She didn’t weigh much. Pius woke up Pyros, who was knocked out the entire time. Pyros stumbled awake, and Dodger gesture with his head. “Come on Pyros wake up. We are going outside and question her Pyros,” Pyros nodded holding his head.


    “Just give me a sec Dodge, I’ll be right outside,” Pyros continued holding his head. Dodger and Pius walked out of the arena, away from Pyros, to interrogate the contractor.

    Back to Top
    mrnutty12 and DarkApostle999 like this.
  11. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 10: Benevolent Apology]

    The crew had to go to the base of the hill a little ways away. For some reason everyone wanted to get Dodger to say hello to them. Dodger was having some trouble dodging and weaving all these people, and was real tempted to teleport. However he would either kill or mutilate the contractor, and they needed her in one piece just in case. When the crew finally got away from the massive crowd, they had to walk a bit to get away from everyone who was at Agni Ignis. Luckily for Pius, Dodger and Pyros knew how to blend in with everyone, and how to easily slip away. Even after that, they hiked a little south from Agni Ignis, towards the bottom of the hill, and then went eastward. When they finally did, Dodger plopped the contractor down on the ground. Luckily there was a little hill so she was sitting up. Dodger went down on one knee and looked a little closer at the contractor. She had red streaks in her hair, obviously signifying her as a fire mage, which Dodger felt firsthand. Dodger looked at his armour, and saw no damage had become of his armour. Dodger looked up, and was head butted as soon as he looked up. Dodger stumbled away, holding his mask. He checked with his fingers to see if anything was broken. When he removed his hands, he saw the contractor having her hands tied behind her back by Pyros. She obviously head butted Dodger. Dodger shook his head.

    “Who the heck head butts anymore?” Dodger asked, throwing up his hands, and directed the question towards Pius. Pius shrugged not understanding that Dodger was saying head butting was unorthodox. Pyros was done tying the contractor’s hands together and Dodger crouched closer to her, but out of head butting range. She tilted her head at Dodger. Dodger squinted at her. Suddenly she got up faster than Pyros or Dodger could react, and she vaulted up in the air, breaking her bonds in the process. She went straight for Dodger, and Dodger teleported. She landed face first on the ground. She recovered quickly and rolled away from Dodger. Dodger held his hands up, ready for a fight. She went straight for Dodger, and threw a punch. Dodger ducked under it, but he could feel the force behind it. Dodger elbowed her and she stumbled forward, actually losing her footing. Dodger turned right around. She quickly got up and ran at Dodger. Dodger ran to meet her. They jumped up at the same time, and collided. She managed to grab Dodger’s arm and mask, bringing him down to earth, and him somehow landing on top of her. She bended his back, threw him up and kicked him away. Dodger rolled, then teleported behind the contractor, tackling her in the process. They rolled for a bit. Dodger vaulted off her, grabbing her hood in the process, and threw her up, jumping up to meet her, he grabbed her, and brought down to earth, slamming her in the ground. A sound wave erupted from around Dodger, and things went quiet. Dodger looked at the contractor, and she coughed, alive. Dodger lifted her up off her feet, dangling her. “Now that we are done fighting, can we maybe talk this out?” Dodger asked, looking intently at the contractor. The contractor coughed again, obviously not expecting how powerful Dodger was.

    Her name was Lyra, as she explained. She also explained that she was hired by an Apostle of Agni to kill a ranger to make an example, though she know believes that it wasn’t an Apostle of Agni. The crew had to make a campfire due to the sun setting. Everyone was sitting and listening to Lyra telling her story. Dodger fell on his back. She was telling everyone how she became a mercenary mage. She said how her cult didn’t believe fire was bad, which it was, and how they were based at Camp Azara. Lyra also explained that she didn’t really visit Azara that much, and that she traveled more than everyone else. Dodger got up and went to her. She looked up at Dodger, towering over her. Dodger leaned in closer and said,

    “Any magic can be used as a weapon, if the weaver chooses to do so,” Dodger said, and turned around, tears in his eyes. Guy Magician had ruined his life by infusing him with teleportation. He hurt his friend, and he scared his father, along with using his father to create his armour. Dodger remembered back when he left Cole Castle to Worthington, to pay his last respects to his dad.

    Dodger walked through Worthington. No one was around, and no one was on the streets. Dodger heard a soft clinking of a hammer in the distance, and Dodger walked towards the sound. As he walked closer, the hammering got louder, until it was deafening. Dodger looked up, his iron armour in pieces, and Dodger saw Fredrick standing over the anvil. Fredrick looked over at Dodger, and then looked at his armour.

    “Dodger!” Fredrick explained, gesturing at Dodger’s armour. “What happened? Your armour is a mess!” Fredrick knew that Dodger had a reputation of having clean and respectable armour. “It looks like someone went to town on it!” Fredrick said, holding his hands out. He was smiling, but Dodger was far from serious. He had just trekked Jason from Anvalia to Cole Castle, to make sure Jason didn’t bleed to death from losing his hand. Fredrick came up to Dodger and embraced him. It was a long time since he did anything like that, where he showed Dodger any signs of being a father. Fredrick stepped back, looking at Dodger, with a tear in his eyes. He swallowed.

    “You’ve grown, Henry,” Fredrick said, looking at Dodger, and how Dodger was much taller than his father. Dodger must have grown from the strength. Instead of filling out in his muscles, which it did later, it made him grow a bit taller to match with his weight. His father was having a bit of trouble believing it. His father turned and opened the door, waiting on Dodger. Dodger slowly went inside. He had never been here before, his family actually used to live in Geuten until Dodger left. Before that, his mom died. She died of bandits coming into the town, slaughtering anyone they saw on the streets. They ran, a couple on saddle, running full tilt down the street, swinging their swords at anyone who was unlucky enough to stay on the street. Unfortunately, Dodger’s mom was the only person on the street. Dodger remembered it vividly. He was small, hiding under their porch, and seeing the hooves and feet of bandits go running around. He was flat on his belly, and he was possibly no more than six. He saw his mother running towards their house, when Dodger saw her turn, and another set came up to her. Dodger looked right at her as he saw her body fall to the ground, and Dodger looked away. That was not a fun night, and his dad stayed drunk because of it. Until know obviously, since Dodger ran away. Dodger sat down at the end of the table, Fredrick across from him. Fredrick looked at Dodger. “Want anything Dodge? Tea? Coffee?” Dodger waved his hand at Fredrick.

    “Just water dad,” Fredrick nodded and brought out two bottles. They drank idly. Dodger stirred the water with his finger, and his dad swooshed it around, an old habit from drinking so much. Dodger sighed. “So I guess you’ve stopped drinking?” Dodger asked, and Fredrick nodded, looking away. “And you moved here?” Fredrick nodded again and idly scratched his head. Dodger tilted his head at his father. “You do know that I know what your thinking right?” Dodger looked at his father. “About mom?” Dodger waited, and when his father didn’t say anything Dodger told him what happened, his teleportation, Jason’s hand coming off, his armour in ruins, and the search for different armour. All the while, his father had his head in his hands. By the time Dodger was finished, Fredrick had gone into his chest already, throwing out swords, bows, and arrows, even entire armour sets. He finally found what he was looking for and turned around, with a gleaming set of armour. It had black steel overlapping each other on the chest piece, and a weird sort of leather for increased mobility at the crucial points for Dodger to turn. The helmet was the same colour as the suit. Dodger looked at it wide eyed. He looked at his father. His father smiled sheepishly.

    “Found a very rare metal, not of this earth, in that meteorite crash near Agni Ignis,” Fredrick handed it to Dodger. It was heavier than Dodger expected. “It’s not light, but it is as tough as the Ender Dragons scales, maybe even stronger. It is resistant to most magic, and can easily be used for magical use. For example your teleportation,” Dodger looked at the suit totally surprised of his father, when suddenly a hand grabbed Dodger’s shoulder.

    Dodger was woken up from his memory, and turned seeing Lyra, with a bit of concern on her face. She peered at Dodger intently into his eyes. Her eyes were of the same dark hue as his. She tilted her head slightly, and whisphered.

    “Sorry for the rough first meeting,” Lyra held out her hand, and Dodger slowly grasped it. She shook his hand, patted his shoulder, than turned, making her look like a ranger. Dodger turned away, wondering why she apologized. Dodger listened, and heard, “I wasn’t sure what to say. I’ve never done it before,” she must have been talking to Pius and Pyros. Dodger heard Pyros voice after Lyra’s.

    “As long as he felt like you were sincere, it doesn’t matter,” Dodger sat down, not wanting to face anyone, but still listening in on their conversations. Lyra spoke next.

    “But why do I feel like he is having a rough time living?” Lyra seemed concerned of Dodger. What for? She had just tried to kill him by shoving a fire bolt up his rib cage. Pyros spoke next.

    “I don’t know his story. Truth is I don’t care. If he can stay focused on the job, then he is a formidable foe. Or an irreplaceable ally,” Pyros seemed to shift, and Dodger looked over towards where the sun was. He realized that they would be camping out today. Dodger was about to do what Pyros did, until he heard something. He heard rustling. Dodger brought out his sword, so as not to disturb the others. Dodger closed his eyes, letting the natural flow of the wilderness envelope him. He heard water, the soft rustling of the wind, and the soft plodding of feet on the grass… Dodger smiled, he found the intruder. Dodger teleported towards the sound, and found that he was grabbing onto a single squirming body. It seemed to be trying to yell for help. Dodger tightened his grip, whispering into the ear of the intruder.

    “Listen up! If I hear so much as a peep from you, your neck will snap so fast that the sound barrier will break!” Dodger whispered menacingly into the intruder’s ear. The intruder held up his hands in surrender. Dodger let loose his grip on the mouth a little bit. The intruder muttered, hesitantly.

    “My name is Skimi!” He said. Dodger was surprised. This was Skimi, who took on a fire mage. Suddenly Dodger remembered that Lyra had a cut on her leg. Dodger rolled his eyes.

    “Your okay Skimi, come on,” Dodger sheathed his sword, and ran towards their campsite. Dodger ran straight towards Pius, Pius went to get up, but Dodger waved his hands. “No that’s not the problem. Give me a strip of bandage, plus some antibiotics,” Pius was confused, but complied. Dodger grabbed it a little hurriedly, and teleported straight to Lyra, Lyra tried to get up hurriedly, the stumbled, crying out in pain. Dodger clicked his tongue. “See that’s why I teleported. So that you wouldn’t do,” Dodger held his hands up, right at her. “That!” Dodger took her leg out, knowing exactly where the wound was. Dodger knew exactly where the wound was. He never forgot where a wound was for a friend of his. Dodger smeared the ointment on the wound, and then quickly wrapped the bandage around. When he tightened it, he did it quickly and fast, making Lyra cry out. Dodger smiled, trying to show it. “Sorry, I work quick,” Dodger was almost done wrapping when Pius crouched beside Dodger. Pius sighed and Dodger halted his work, looking at Pius. Pius seemed to be smiling. “What?” Dodger asked, and Pius held his hand out towards Dodger, holding a pin.


    “You work quick, and forget just as fast,” Pius took over for Dodger, and Dodger felt extremely tired. He had teleported, fought and used mass amounts of adrenaline. Dodger looked over at Pyros who was filling in Skimi. Dodger was having trouble keeping his eyes open, and laid down, falling asleep instantly as soon as his head hit the grass.

    Back to Top
    valkyrieX888 and mrnutty12 like this.
  12. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 11: Legion]

    Dodger woke up from his dreamless sleep. The moon was high up in the sky, the fire was almost out, and almost no one was around Dodger. Dodger slowly got up, his head throbbing like crazy, making his vision vibrate. He went under his helmet, and rubbed at his temples. Skimi was still here, but Skimi was trying to be stealthy, hiding behind a rock. However the rock kept making noise. Shifting, coughing, all the little things that sounded like a barrage of horses were running up behind you. Dodger removed his hands and looked around. He wondered where all the horses went. He saw a few in Geuten, and that was it. It was as though they disappeared. Skimi made another shift in his position and Dodger sighed.

    “Skimi, I know you are there,” Dodger looked right at the rock where Skimi was hiding behind. Sure enough, Skimi popped his head over the rock, like a gopher about to see its shadow. Dodger rolled his eyes and Skimi came out in the open, sitting down by the fire. He brought a stick out and started poking idly at the flames. Dodger looked at him, and then realized it was just him. Dodger looked around. “Where is everyone?” Dodger inquired. Skimi still poked at the fireplace, making it stir a little bit. He said,

    “They went out to patrol. Where I don’t know. Usually bandits are more present around this area,” Dodger was confused. Why would they be present around here? Dodger inquired and Skimi chuckled slightly. “They look for new recruits. Anyone here can prove themselves, and if you play your cards right, boom! You get into a clique,” Skimi went back to poking the fire, looking at Dodger in the corner of his eye. “You know that Champion was a bandit. You finished him off as though he was a simple training dummy,” Skimi stopped poking the fire, the fire in full bloom now, and threw the stick in. Dodger shrugged, and Skimi blew on the fire.

    “I trained at Cole Castle for most of my life,” Dodger said, looking at the hypnotic fire, dancing in the moonlight. “I attuned my senses, then a crazy magician infused strength and teleportation into me,” Skimi widened his eyes, looking at Dodger.

    “So is that why you can teleport?!” Skimi said a little excited. Dodger nodded and continued.

    “I attuned my battle reflexes even more, and since then I have become more like a machine than anything,” Dodger laid down on the grass again, looking at the stairs and the familiar constellations he grew up with. “I guess I just grew into mercenary life, hence why I am here right now,” Dodger continued looking up at the sky, and noticed one star was moving faster than the others. Plus it was orange. Dodger continued looking at it, when it finally disappeared. Dodger tilted his head confused and Skimi spoke up.

    “Weird. Never saw a star do that before,” Skimi was looking up at the sky as well when Dodger stopped talking to observe the sky. Dodger nodded, propping his body up with his arms.

    “Neither have I,” Dodger looked to see if it would return, when suddenly a much more massive star, bright orange, flashed in front of Dodger, going up on a sharp angle. Dodger looked ahead at himself, and saw flashes of light over the hillside. Lyra. Dodger looked at Skimi, and Skimi saw it as well. Dodger got up quickly and drew out his sword, prepared to fight when he heard footsteps rushing to his camp. Dodger looked up and saw Pius on the hillside, pointing towards the flashes of light.

    “Bandits!” Pius called and Dodger snapped into action. He teleported up to Pius and looked straight at him.

    “Where are Pyros and Lyra?” Dodger was not in a laughing matter with bandits. You had no idea what a bandit would do. Pius pointed towards the clearing near Agni Ignis. Dodger looked and saw Pyros and Lyra back to back fighting off the surrounding bandits. One held a banner, and it showed a massive eagle holding a laurel. Under it was SPQR. Dodger squinted his eyes. Legion. Dodger ran towards the group, skipping across the wasteland. The flag bearer turned and saw Dodger running full tilt at him. His eyes went wide and he shook his comrades, falling at the same time, luckily for him. His comrades turned and Dodger swiped his sword at both of them, killing them. Dodger leaped and landed in the middle of the circle with Pyros and Lyra. Pyros yelled over his shoulder.

    “Good of you to join us!” The Legion backed away, unsure who this new man was. Lyra chuckled.

    “We were just fine until you showed up,” Lyra held up her hands at the ready. Dodger shook his head, his iron sword hanging loosely in his hand.

    “I bet!” Dodger shouted at Lyra, the Legion getting a bit cockier. They charged and Dodger tightened his grip on the sword. The Legion members facing Dodger tried to halt but they were already running full tilt. Dodger jumped up and landed on the first one, snapping his neck and swinging his sword at the same time, slicing three other bandits. He received a swift knock on the head from another Legion member, and Dodger stabbed him, drawing the sword out slowly, he then teleported behind one Legion, then teleported back, dropping the torso that came with him. The torso melted into the ground and the remaining member made a choking sound, unable to produce any air. Dodger kept fighting, noticing that some Legion’s were not dying from his sword cuts. He was working harder from not actually killing some bandits due to their iron armour. The entire clan was clad in iron armour, making it definitely harder to kill all the bandits. Dodger jumped and found himself back to back with Lyra. She looked over her shoulder, and Dodger did the same with his. The nodded and Dodger grabbed Lyra and threw her up in the air. A bandit came and Dodger swiped, making the bandit stumble away. Lyra was up in the air; firing fire bolts at the remaining bandits. When she fell Dodger caught her. She jumped off and continued fighting. Dodger rolled under a broadsword swipe, and kicked out the leg, breaking it. He was about to finish the bandit when another one kicked him from behind. Dodger fell and looked behind him, seeing the bandit with an arrow between his eyes. Pyros came running up behind and lifted him off his feet, making Dodger stumble straight into another bandit. The bandit was surprised and Dodger vaulted off him, falling into Lyra. She shoved him off her and that was when Pyros yelled out to them.

    “Run away! More bandits coming!” Dodger looked up. More bandits? They were having a tough time with the bandits now! A bandit yelled and tried to stick Dodger with a sword. Dodger rolled out of the way, grabbed the bandit by the chin and threw him face first into the ground, knocking him out. Dodger grabbed Lyra.

    “We have to move!” Dodger knew he could teleport, but Lyra wasn’t so lucky in this mass of bodies. Dodger grabbed the fabric of her robes and threw her over the crowd. He braced than teleported, his vision doing its crazy motion sickening act, then snapping back to normal. He turned around, and she fell straight onto Dodger. She rolled recovering, but Dodger had a full person slam into him at his own strength. Dodger coughed, moaning. “Ugh, now I know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of my own weight!” Dodger slowly got up, not hearing any battle cries or fighting except in the distance. Dodger was almost to his feet when Lyra smacked him in the face, throwing off his helmet. Lyra turned away holding her hand groaning, and Dodger fell down the little hill they went to. Dodger recovered and rushed to get his helmet on. He jammed it on and turned to Lyra. Lyra turned towards Dodger, not amused. Dodger righted his helmet to fit where he was looking. Lyra stormed towards him.

    “Did you find that amusing!” She was ticked off. Dodger got up slowly again. She had her hands on her hips and was still yammering at Dodger. All Dodger caught was she was not happy with Dodger throwing her, then her landing on a hard and strong object, which just so happened to be Dodger. Dodger held up his hand to stir the amount of words Lyra was saying to Dodger, with no such luck. She slapped the hand away and Dodger rolled his eyes. He was not listening, instead he waited there, crouching and holding his legs. He was tired from the crazy amount of sprinting. Dodger rummaged through his pack and found some carrots. He munched idly on them while Lyra continued talking. Dodger was done with the talking, put the carrots away, and grabbed Lyra by the shoulders, hoping not to raise her above her feet.

    “I’m sorry for throwing you Lyra!” Dodger said harshly at her. “But I was saving the both of us from the mass amount of Legion Bandits. Alright?” Dodger released her and she looked down a little sheepishly. Dodger nodded and looked behind. Some bandits were hiking their way towards Dodger and Lyra. One bandit pointed towards them and the bandits started sprinting to Dodger and Lyra. Dodger turned Lyra around and pushed her a little to get her running. She didn’t need inspiration. They were not able to go far though as they suddenly came before a ledge. Dodger actually almost ran off the ledge, a few pebbles falling down. They could survive… maybe. Dodger looked at Lyra. “Jump,” he said, planning on catching her. She looked at Dodger eyes extremely wide.

    “Are you kidding me?” She shrieked. “I am not jumping down there!” Dodger sighed, holding his hands out.


    “I’ll catch you! It’s the only way to escape!” Dodger heard a bow twang and looked over. The bandits were much closer than expected, and an arrow was in the air, and before Dodger could react, and arrow penetrated straight through his hand. The arrow had barbs, making it impossible to remove it the way it came through. Dodger stumbled from the arrow shot, and tumbled down the ledge. Lyra tried to grab onto Dodger, and realized her mistake too late. You can’t exactly lift up a few hundred pound soldier from a falling cliff. She was dragged with Dodger and they both fell into the canyon. Dodger position himself in the air to land first under Lyra to provide as safe a fall for her as possible. Dodger had no idea what would happen to him when they fell. Dodger then realized he could teleported, and teleported safely down. Lyra wasn’t so lucky and fell on top of Dodger, making Dodger stumble. Dodger righted his helmet with his right hand and looked at Lyra. She was unconscious. Dodger looked up at the ledge and saw the bandits pointing towards them. Dodger hustled towards Lyra and picked her up by her arm, throwing her over his shoulders. He ran away from the archers, looking left and right for a simple exit out of this little canyon.

    Back to Top
  13. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 12: Escape!]

    Dodger stumbled as yet another arrow stuck itself on the rock face near Dodger. This canyon was not at all being friendly to Dodger. Lyra was fully knocked out and Dodger was having a tough time making sure that another arrow didn’t pierce him or that an arrow didn’t hit Lyra. Dodger got back on his feet and hoisted Lyra up, an arrow slamming into Dodger’s back. Dodger collapsed and dropped Lyra. He quickly groped for the arrow with his right hand, making sure his left hand didn’t grope at his back. He looked at it, and only saw a bit of the shaft sticking out. Dodger tilted his head, and an arrow slammed into the ground next to him. Dodger looked at the three archers. They had terrible aim. Dodger looked at the arrow, and grabbed at the shaft, an arrow whizzing by his head. He closed his eyes, puffed a couple of times and pulled as fast as he could. The shaft came out easily, and it ended up just being a stick. Dodger guessed that the arrow melted from his teleportation after he teleported to the bottom of the crater. Dodger smiled and brought out his bow. The archers fired off three more shots. One hit the side, another hit the ground, and the third slammed straight into Dodger’s chest. Dodger stumbled up, and saw the arrow drop. This armour was really useful.

    Dodger righted his bow and an arrow spawned in his hand, the small broken arrow in his back pocket making a copy of it. Dodger squinted a little and loosed the arrow. He didn’t observe his shot and fired off four more arrows, five arrows up in the air. Two arrows smacked into a few other arrows in the air, and that left three arrows. A bandit reared and an arrow slammed into his eye. He flew back and the other two bandits turned to look, and arrow smacking into them. Their heads snapped from the force and they dropped. After the massive adrenaline rush, Dodger blinked. He looked around. The silence was deafening. Dodger put his bow over his shoulder and tightened the string. He went over to Lyra. He crouched.

    “Yeah you are gonna be a real load if I have to carry you beyond this crater,” Dodger grabbed her arm and lifted her over his shoulder. He had to somehow get out of this crater, and Lyra was not helping him in any way.

    Dodger rounded a corner and saw the meteor in its entire splendor. He remembered the king thinking about moving the meteor away and converting it to armour. However, when researchers took away the meteor and tested it as armour, it was weaker than leather, useless to the king. Dodger picked up a bit of the remaining fragments. Lyra slipped a little and Dodger shrugged his shoulders. He brought the fragment up to look. His dad had used the meteor as vital lights all over Dodger’s suit. The little orange glows on his back and front. What the king didn’t realize about the meteor was it was great for organisms. Dodger tossed the little red rock away. He shifted his position for Lyra again and looked up. Storm clouds were forming. Dodger rolled his eyes. He’d be fine but Lyra wouldn’t like it. Dodger looked around and saw a cave. That would be a perfect shelter. Dodger shifted Lyra and had it where he was carrying her in his arms. It would be easier to set her down. He saw a raindrop hit the ground near him.

    A horse trotted near the ledge west of Dodger. Dodger rolled his eyes, another stray horse. If the horse were lucky the king’s men would take care of this horse. The horse hit the ground with its hoof a couple of times, and then looked around. The horse was damp from the rain. Thunder rumbled and the horse looked behind it. Lightning flashed and a massive clap of thunder came immediately after the lightning flash and the horse whinnied. It reared and fell down the ledge, landing on its side on the same level as Dodger. Dodger looked over at Lyra and she shifted her position a little bit. Dodger had already checked her forehead and leg. He had removed the bandage on the leg and put a fresh bandage on her forehead where her head was bleeding from the fall. In the heat of the moment, Dodger hadn’t noticed it then. Dodger looked back at the horse. The horse had waved its hooves and righted itself. Dodger leaned back on the wall and simply watched the horse. Dodger noticed on its left flank a weird patch of dead skin. Dodger frowned at it. The horse neighed and Lyra was startled awake. Dodger put his hand over her mouth. He wasn’t too sure about the horse now. Lyra moved Dodger’s hand and looked at him.

    “What’s a horse doing here?” She asked, completely perplexed. Dodger shrugged.

    “No idea. Maybe it will show us,” Dodger whispered, as not to disturb the horse. The horse bobbed its head. Lyra shifted her position so as to sit upright beside Dodger. The horse turned a little and Dodger saw the full patch of dead skin. Dodger widened his eyes and his vision exploded with the creeper exploding, killing a group of soldiers, a spider biting a miner in the caves, making the miners skin fall off, and a massive pack of zombies, chasing down one person. The zombies overtook the person with ease, and destroyed the body. Dodger blinked hard and the horse looked straight at him. It whinnied and threw up its hooves, making a devilish sound. Dodger frowned, his eyes wide. A horse was not to make that noise. The horse landed and grabbed at its legs, panting and crunching down on its leg, making a sick bone breaking sound. The horse shook its head, and a bit of skin flew off its leg. The horse lifted its head and made that weird noise again. The horse grabbed its shoulder with its teeth, and pulled at its skin. The skin gave way with a massive tearing noise and blood sprang from the new wound. The horse neighed and continued to pull, ripping the skin from its chest area along with its skin from the shoulder. The horse shook its head and skin flew from the hide, ripping clean across the horse’s chest. The horse stumbled from its broken leg and fell on the ground, a puddle of blood quickly forming and being washed into the cave by the rain. Lyra buried her head in Dodger, while Dodger saw the horse commit suicide. The horse waved its hooves in the head and skin was falling off the horse, causing more blood to pool from the horse, and Dodger was seeing bone showing from under the muscle. The horse landed on its side and started panting heavily, its flank going up and down, squirting blood out of its mouth and eyes. Dodger looked away, and saw the blood go deeper into the cave, a steady stream coming from the horse. The horse seemed to cough, neighed then went silent after a couple minutes. Dodger looked at the horse, and saw its eyes dim. Dodger stayed there for a few seconds, unbelieving what he saw. Dodger shook Lyra slightly.

    “Lyra,” Dodger shook her again. “Lyra!” Lyra looked up at Dodger. “Come on, we need to get out of here,” Dodger pointed at the horse. “That thing is going to smell, and we cannot sleep with this filling up the cave. I saw where it came up, come on,” Lyra nodded and Dodger got up, holding his hand out. Lyra took it slowly, trembling. Dodger understood. She just saw a horse commit suicide. Of course, no one else was going to believe him about the weird stuff happening within Aeronaean, but with Lyra? Maybe. Dodger and Lyra were soaked to the bone when they finally got to the top of the ledge. It was surprising really. It had only stormed for a few minutes. Dodger looked down at his suit, protecting his skin from the elements. One of these days he would have to show his skin to the sun again. Dodger looked up and sighed. They still had a ways to go before they met up with the rest of the crew.

    The stream was easy to cross. And for some odd reason the rain decided to stop while they crossed into the desert. Dodger looked up and saw the sun shining through the remnants of the clouds. Wait, how long had it been? The sun was shining through the clouds? Pyros and Pius could be anywhere! Dodger decided not to dwell on it. He would head over to Cole Castle and wait for Pyros there. Or Worthington. Dodger looked to his left and noticed a path heading into the massive sand mountain. Dodger pointed at it.

    “Lyra, what is that?” Dodger could see a little arch over the hill. Lyra shrugged.

    “No idea,” she lowered Dodger’s hand. “But we don’t have time for that now. We need to keep moving,” Lyra advanced south but Dodger stayed a little bit behind. He squinted and saw something tall and dark with purple eyes round the corner. Dodger stopped and looked right at it. It was taller than him, Dodger could tell. Dodger waited on the creature and the creature did a teleportation forward a little bit. Dodger staggered back and went for his sword before the creature stood tall. It pointed south. Dodger looked, saw Lyra walking towards a massive water hole, then he looked back at the creature. The creature was gone, save for a weird device within his hand. Dodger looked down at it, and realized that it was the radio Benji had. Dodger looked down at it startled when Lyra called towards Dodger. Dodger snapped out of his thoughts, and quickly put the Eye from the looks of things in his pocket. He jogged after Lyra and looked back at the pathway, unsure what to think of his mysterious encounter.

    Lyra insisted on taking a bath. They had reached the massive water hole just south of where Dodger received the Eye. Dodger made sure that he collected water fresh for his canteen before Lyra decided to bath herself. Dodger was also polite in turning away while she did so.

    “Dodger,” Lyra called after a few minutes. Dodger grunted. “Do you ever need to bath while in that suit?” Dodger tilted his head. He had zero idea. Maybe his suit killed whatever was on his body? Dodger shrugged. Lyra chuckled. Obviously she was looking at him. “Well if I could go without bathing for years, I would do it,” Dodger rolled his eyes.

    “Thank goodness I already got water before you went in,” Dodger smiled and he heard Lyra gasp. Dodger heard water slosh and land right next to him. Dodger brought his hands up, leaning away from the water. “Hey! Hey! I was joking!” Dodger said, making sure not to look up. He heard Lyra tap him on the shoulder. Dodger looked up and saw her in her full attire, robe and everything.

    “I was done anyways,” she said and walked of, easterly. Dodger looked at the sun in the sky, then back at Lyra.

    “Hey genius!” Dodger called, hoping Lyra would stop to look behind her. She didn’t. Instead she kept walking. Dodger rolled his eyes again. “South is that way!” Dodger hollered, pointing south. Lyra stopped, turned, and headed straight towards Dodger. Lyra brushed by Dodger and headed south.

    “I knew that,” she said, an air of superiority in her voice. Dodger shook his head and took out the Eye in his pocket. He looked at it, examining its details. He saw a little switch on its side.

    “I bet you did,” Dodger clicked the switch and when nothing happened he put it back in his pocket. He looked up, and the tall massive being was in front of him from earlier. Dodger looked up at it. It was taller than Dodger, by at least a couple feet. The creature pointed at Dodger’s Eye, and Dodger brought it out. The creature put its hand on the eye, and images sprang to Dodger’s mind. It showed the creature, destroying humans, creepers and spiders, zombies and skeletons. All of which were killing humans. Dodger suddenly had the feeling of flying and saw that it was Aeronaean, but when it wasn’t civilized. Dodger widened his eyes and the images closed in on itself. Dodger looked up at the Enderman and the Enderman was gone. Dodger looked around. How did it do that? Dodger looked over at Lyra and ran up to meet her. “Lyra! Hey Lyra!” Lyra stopped at looked at Dodger. Dodger pointed behind him. “Did you… see…. Did you see the…. The Enderman…?” Dodger wasn’t sure what to say. Lyra looked puzzled.

    “Enderman?” Lyra raised an eyebrow. “What Enderman?” She shook her head and turned around. Dodger shook his hands.

    “No the Enderman! He was right there in front of me just as you left… Careful! Careful!” Dodger grabbed Lyra’s shoulder and pulled back. Lyra stumbled behind Dodger and Dodger planted himself firmly prone. He looked down the massive hole they would have both fallen down. Lyra looked down the hole and her eyes went wide. She backed up slowly, then simply turned around and ran. Dodger was quick to act and ran after her. She tripped and was kicked and shoving to keep Dodger off of her.

    “I am not going in there! Red Demon! He! No it! That is its temple! I am not going in!!!” She was hollering and Dodger simply stopped. She halted in her weird judo position waiting for Dodger to make a move. Dodger held up his hands.

    “We are not going in there. I was just trying to stir you out of acting weird. Dodger looked up and behind and saw the sun starting to set. As Dodger was looking he noticed movement by the hole. Thinking it was bandits he drew his sword. He walked slowly and recognized the movements of the person. Thinking it was Pyros he lowered his sword and hollered, “Hello!” The person halted and looked right at Dodger. The sun was just illuminating his face. He smiled at Dodger. Dodger widened his eyes in confusions.


    It was Carl Fern, leader of Scouting Battalion Alpha, reporting under Dodger. Was hanged for treason against the king, stabbed and thrown in a hole in the desert. Confirmed dead by three healers. And he was standing in front of Dodger smiling.

    Back to Top
  14. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 13: Chamber of Stories]

    Dodger sheathed his sword as Carl towards Dodger, arms out, welcoming Dodger. Dodger couldn’t believe his eyes. He banged his helmet a little bit and saw he was not dreaming. That was Carl Fern alright. He was walking normally and fine, and he was smiling. Dodger was a little on guard because he knew that he didn’t look anything like those creatures in his visions. Carl came up and put his hands on Dodger’s shoulders, making Dodger’s armour clink a little bit. Carl patted Dodger’s mask.

    “Hey Dodge! How’s it going?” Carl asked like as though they were meeting up for a drink. Dodger blinked hard. This had to be another dream. Carl swung his arms to his sides.

    “How… How are you alive Carl?” Dodger asked, clicking his sword idly, listening to the soothing sound of it going into his scabbard. Carl turned around towards the Red Demon temple.

    “I went to the nether,” Carl turned towards Dodger. “Did you know that? I was tried for treason against the king,” Carl fully faced towards Dodger and gestured at himself. “Me! A scout that couldn’t do anything!” Dodger turned towards Lyra and saw that there was fire licking at the corners of her mouth. Dodger turned back to Carl. Carl smiled. “I was shown mercy by Crimson, the Red Demon. He allowed me to live again as long as I did one thing for him,” Carl looked straight at Dodger and Dodger saw his vision go a little orange. Something was not right. Dodger stopped clicking his sword.

    “What was the catch?” Dodger asked, his sword out from its scabbard a little bit. He turned towards Lyra and saw her hands forming small fire bolts. Carl turned away looking down into the pit. He chuckled.

    “I’m sorry Dodger,” Carl said and Dodger took his sword out even more. Suddenly he didn’t like Crimson reanimating Carl. “The catch was for me to lead Crimsons armies into the world,” Carl whispered just enough for Dodger to hear. He straightened and Dodger almost had his entire sword out. “As my first order of business. I am to kill you, Henry Barkov!” Carl hollered and swung a fist straight at Dodger. Dodger took out his sword and felt the full crunch of Carl’s punch. Dodger felt light for a few seconds and then crashed down into the sand, feeling it build up behind him until he stopped finally. Dodger groaned and got up, seeing his sword land a few inches away from him into the soil. Dodger grabbed the sword and pulled at it. The sword was jammed into the sandstone. Dodger looked over and saw Carl advancing towards Dodger, Lyra running after him. Dodger yanked out the sword finally and swung his sword straight at Carl on the flat side. Sandstone was caked on the very tip and it hit Carl straight in the face. Carl fell face first on the ground and Dodger swung his sword down at Carl. Carl rolled and threw sand at Dodger’s face. That didn’t work and Dodger stabbed at Carl. It went straight through Carl’s chest and Carl smiled. He pulled the sword, and Dodger, into him. “You really think you can defeat me with something as petty as strength?” Carl backhanded Dodger and Dodger went flying. He landed, making a crater in the sand and looked up at Carl, yanking his iron sword out. He turned towards Dodger and slowly made his way towards Dodger. Time seemed to slow as Dodger saw a fire bolt come straight for Carl’s head, landing its mark dead on. Carl stumbled and Dodger teleported right in front of Carl. Dodger swung his fist at Carl’s facing, feeling the bones crack. Dodger then grabbed Carl and threw him over Dodger’s shoulder, slamming him on Dodger’s knee. Dodger was starting to feel progressively stronger. He grabbed Carl by the hand and threw him up in the air. Dodger teleported in front of Carl’s face and grabbed his arm. He smiled at Carl.

    “Hasta la Vista!” Dodger grabbed all of the arm and teleported down to earth towards his sword. He looked up and saw that Carl’s arm was missing. Dodger looked down and saw the arm melt in his hands. He looked at where his sword was and took it out of the sand; the sandstone was knocked clean off. Dodger looked over where Carl had landed and yelped. Carl was fine, as a stub was growing in replacement of the arm Dodger’s sheared off. Dodger looked over at Lyra, and saw her collapsed on the ground. Too many things were happening too quickly. Carl looked at Dodger.

    “You can’t kill me!” Carl raised his hands and thunder shook in the distance. A flash of lightning went across the land. “I have the power of Crimson! The Red Demon! Ruler of the Nether! Destroyer of Worlds! Patron to Pale Eyes! And I am going to use your head as my trophy!” Dodger blinked at Carl. He extended a hand.

    “Pale Eyes is not Agni?” Carl lowered his arms a little bit and Dodger tele-dashed right towards Carl. He stabbed Carl in the arm, drawing out the sword and slashing Carl across the face. Carl went for a punch but Dodger ducked and stabbed his sword in Carl’s foot. Carl hollered and kicked Dodger in the gut. Dodger fell on his back and Carl brought his hands down in a hammer manner, when Dodger teleported behind Carl and stabbed Carl’s arm. Carl used his good arm and smacked Dodger straight in the face. Dodger stumbled back away from his sword and Carl spun, slashing Dodger’s chest with the sword. Dodger stumbled back and Carl jumped up, kicking Dodger twice, the second one throwing Dodger to the ground. Dodger rolled as the blade in Carl’s arm implemented where Dodger was. Carl stood up and pulled it out somehow and threw it aside. He lifted his hand, and a sword ebbed of netherack appeared in Carl’s hand. Dodger’s eyes widened and he had to roll again. Dodger grabbed his sword and broke straight through the netherack sword. Carl jumped back and summoned another sword, when suddenly a black object propelled past Dodger and slammed straight into Carl. Dodger ducked and saw the Enderman was back. The Enderman turned towards Dodger. Dodger held up his hands and the Enderman gestured towards Carl. Dodger looked at Carl, then back at the Enderman. Dodger nodded and Dodger tele-dashed straight at Carl. Carl brought up his hands and Dodger sliced through them. Carl extended his arms, wrecking his hands and the Enderman came and punched Carl straight in the face. Carl stumbled to his legs and Dodger stabbed his sword straight through Carl’s neck. Carl cried out and grabbed Dodger, throwing Dodger off of him. Dodger rolled and looked up to see the Enderman pull the sword out of Carl, and spin Carl around, stabbing Carl in the gut. Carl pushed the Enderman off and threw the sword towards Dodger. Carl looked straight at Dodger, his eyes looking like they could kill.

    “I am going to paint Romero in your blood Dodger!” Carl waltzed towards Dodger and Dodger grabbed his sword. Dodger shoved the sword up at Carl and threw him up in the air, and then Dodger teleported towards Carl and slashed Carl left and right in the face, covering his face with scars. Dodger threw Carl towards the ground and teleported a little up, throwing his sword at the ground towards Carl. Dodger teleported down almost immediately caught his sword and threw it at Carl again. He repeated this four more times, until he was going at an extremely fast pace. Dodger felt something pop and Dodger slammed straight into Carl, his sword cutting through flesh. He felt his feet slam into the ground and a massive sound emitted around Dodger, the ground indenting around him and Carl, the sand flipping up from the ground and Dodger staggered away from the point of impact. Dodger could barely see. He looked and saw the Enderman nod at Dodger and teleport away. Dodger looked back towards Carl and saw Carl stagger away in the haze. Dodger looked at Dodger and walked away more into the dust.

    Dodger looked around for Lyra. She was collapsed somewhere but Dodger was having a tough time seeing through this sand. Thank goodness the sand couldn’t get into his armour, otherwise he would be very uncomfortable. Dodger squinted, and waited a bit for the sand to settle. When it didn’t he moved to where he thought a hill was. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and looked over, and then up. The Enderman was leading him somewhere. Dodger put his hand on the Endermans arm and felt a massive wave of visions flood into his mind, making him pass out.

    Dodger awoke in a small room, flooded with images all around him. Dodger looked up and saw the sky half day and half night. He looked around and met eyes with the Enderman. The Enderman spread his arms out.

    “Welcome Dodger, to our Chamber of Stories!” The Enderman spoke in his mind, raising his hands. His voice sounded deep, old and ancient. Dodger looked around and the room went totally dark. The only illumination was from Dodger and the Enderman’s eyes. The Enderman pointed at the wall right of Dodger and an image popped up. It showed other Enderman around a pearl, watching the events of the world. “As I am sure you are aware, you may think of us Endermen as evil creatures. Nightspawn made from the End,” The Enderman around the table got up and a few held up their hands, while others stayed sitting. Each had a unique appearance to the next. “Back a few hundered years ago, when your ancestors first arrived at Aeronaean, we held a council to see if your kind could stay. All but a couple approved,” The Enderman walked up to Dodger. He pointed at one of the ones sitting. “I was one of the ones who did not approve,” The image changed and it showed humans landing in massive ships on the coastline. “We were all living in peace. Your kind was building up massive cities and making our land absolutely fertile. We had a pleasant life, and we could even speak to one of you. However that plan went south when the Skeleton King demanded the humans to pay up tax from the lands. When the humans refused, the Skeletons attacked,” Enderman waved his hand and a new image appeared. “Skeletons are a rare form of spawn, created by the Red Demon. In case you were wondering,” Enderman looked at Dodger and Dodger simply nodded, too intrigued by the images. It showed hands coming out from the earth, and skeletons lifting them out of the earth as well. “Crimson provided the skeletons with a slow moving armada of undead. It slaughtered your people, but your people fought back with mysterious weaponry and armour. Items that we did not have,” Enderman looked at Dodger. “Yours is strangest by the most,” Enderman looked back at the screen, and waved his hand again. “Crimson called on the creepers and us to help the skeletons and zombies,” The image showed an Enderman waving his hand away from burning trees. “We refused, but the creepers agreed,” Enderman waved his hand again and a new image startled Dodger. This showed humans slaughtering Endermen by the dozen. Arrows were being struck dead on into the Endermen, and soldiers were clearing out any habitable place that the Endermen made. “We only joined when humans came after us. They slaughtered all our innocent, and we were unused to your arrows, so we were not able to teleport away from your arrows,” Enderman waved his hand again and it showed four Endermen taking on a force of hundreds of humans. “We were considered the ‘cavalry’ as you humans would say,” Enderman waved his hand and the images disappeared. “I do however need to tell you this. We are not the bad guys. Agni created us from shadow. Crimson is the one who made us attack you,” Enderman moved his hands and the room lit up. “Now, I will give you a better history lesson later, but you need to get back to the real world,” Enderman placed his hands on Dodger’s shoulders. “The reason why you haven’t been able to talk is because I made sure you didn’t interrupt me,” Enderman closed his eyes and Dodger was propelled forward into darkness. He heard Enderman’s voice in his head. “When you wake, you will see Lyra just waking up as well. She will ask you what happened. Tell her what happened, but do not mention me,” Dodger frowned a little but let Enderman continue. “That Eye is for communication with others with the same type. Those rangers have some,” Enderman paused and quietly said. “Dodger. Do not let her go. Whatever you do. Crimson has big plans right now, and you are an obstacle. That is not good for you. Crimson will do anything he can to make sure you die, whether inside or out. Do not let her go,” Enderman exhaled. “She views you differently from everyone else. Do not let her go,” Dodger suddenly saw sand enter his vision, along with water and he felt his limbs come to life. He appeared, and the sun was shining. He heard some final words from Enderman, “Head south Dodger. We will meet again.”

    Lyra got up slowly, shaking her head. She opened her mouth wide along with her eyes, her palm on her forehead.

    “Wow that is the last time I am infusing you with extra magic,” Lyra muttered blinking hard. Dodger looked down at her. She did what?! Lyra looked at Dodger and seemed to notice him being ticked off. Lyra held up her hands quickly. “It’s only temporary. It enhances all your magical abilities for a short while. It seemed you needed it, since you were facing Carl,” Dodger remembered Enderman’s words and nodded at Lyra.

    “Yeah, that was it. Thanks for that by the way,” Dodger held out his hand and Lyra took it. She stared at Dodger, and Dodger saw the edge of his vision fading from its orange hue. Lyra smiled.

    “Hmm. Blue eyes. Never knew you had blue eyes Dodge,” Lyra said. Dodger shrugged when they suddenly heard an explosion rock the hillside. Dodger looked over at the green hillside past the water. Dodger looked at Lyra.


    “We should help out whoever is in trouble,” Dodger said and Lyra nodded, agreeing. Dodger drew out his sword and raced towards the water, and anyone who was in trouble.

    Back to Top
  15. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 14: Small World]

    Dodger and Lyra had to swim across that little lake between the desert and they ran into the wooden forest. Dodger looked at it and then looked at Lyra. He signaled for Lyra to follow him and Dodger sprinted to his left. He looked behind him and saw Lyra barely keeping pace. This was normal for him. He was always ahead of people, always faster, always stronger always more machine like. He could keep this pace for days. Dodger slowed down his pace a little bit and Lyra came up panting hard.

    “I can’t… I can’t keep the pace you have Dodge,” Lyra said, her hands on her knees, and her shoulders going up and down each breathe. Dodger looked at Lyra, and then looked up over the hillside. He could see smoke and a light fire-ish glow. Dodger looked at Lyra.

    “You catch your breath here. I will go up and help who’s in trouble,” Dodger waited on Lyra’s response. Lyra sat down and nodded, panting hard. Dodger drew out his sword and charged up the hillside. Dodger looked behind him and saw Lyra resting. Dodger managed to reach the top of the hill and overlooked the small skirmish. It did not look pretty. About seven Cole Castle guards with a tipped over chest cart were fighting for their lives in a sea of dark red hooded bandits. Dodger immediately knew they were hooded bandits and decided to lend a hand towards the guards. Dodger looked down and saw a few bandits running up to him, obviously seeing him. Dodger assumed they might try and fight him, but was surprised to see them have a pouch of gold in their hands.

    “You! Mercenary! We need a little help here! We will give you 500 gold ingots. 150 upfront!” The first bandit said. Dodger brought out his bow and sword. The bandits smiled and tossed Dodger the pouch. Dodger weighed it and smiled. He got paid and he was going to help the guards. Dodger went up to the nearest bandit and snapped his neck. The other two bandits turned and one had a sword, stick through his mouth. The last bandit recoiled; fell and Dodger summoned an arrow, sticking it in the bandit’s eye. Dodger went down the hill slowly, swinging his sword as he went. The other bandits turned and growled at Dodger. Dodger looked over and saw one person of the guards fall from an arrow to the neck. Dodger charged and so did five bandits. Dodger jumped and landed on the first two, stabbing a third in the eye. Dodger swiped and left the other two bandits on the ground, holding their backs. The other bandits had eyes wide with surprise. One person managed to take down five men with a few motions. The other bandits brought out bows, and the fight suddenly became a battle. An arrow shrieked and clanged off of Dodger’s armour. Dodger looked down and jumped forward into the bandit group. There were too many bandits even for Dodger. Dodger rolled under ones legs, stabbing the bandit behind him. Dodger vaulted off another and landed feet first, slashing a bandit behind him then stabbing one in front of him. Dodger only went to his fists once his sword lost his grip.

    The bandit came up quickly and grabbed Dodger’s sword. Dodger threw him off but the bandit managed to take Dodger’s sword with him. Dodger turned and punched a guy straight in the face, denting his face and throwing him to the ground. Dodger slid backwards, and took out another, grabbed his head and kneed him as quickly as he could. He threw him off and spun a kick at another bandit. They kept coming. The bandit who took Dodger’s sword charged at Dodger and Dodger kicked the sword up in the air. This bandit was a little better trained with his sword. The bandit swung and stabbed, just missing Dodger by inches. Dodger grabbed the hilt of the sword, but the bandit lifted Dodger’s arms, to a break point, and then slammed them to the ground. A bandit came up behind Dodger and ran on Dodger like a piggyback ride. Now things were just getting ridiculous. Dodger threw off the piggy backer and succeeded in gripping another sword, one made of wood. Dodger looked down at it in disgust, when suddenly an iron sword swiped through the wood, breaking it instantly. Dodger looked up and jumped back from another sword swipe. Dodger swiped his fist at the bandit, and hit the iron sword. The sword suddenly became useless as the sword was dented to the left. The bandit looked at the useless weapon surprised and Dodger jabbed the bandit in the nose, throwing the bandit away and breaking his nose. Dodger turned and grabbed an arrow. This arrow most definitely came out of nowhere. Dodger looked up and saw a few bandits shooting arrows at Dodger. Dodger ducked down and covered his head with his hands, waiting for a bit. He turned around and saw a few bandits with swords at Dodger’s throat. Dodger rolled his eyes and shrugged.

    “Hey, I’m not this easy to come by,” Dodger said and the bandits edged the blades closer to Dodger’s neck. Dodger looked up behind him and looked down at the bandits. “Now, I am going to give you guys a few options. Either let me go and live, or I will kill you with some fireballs!” The bandits laughed this time and Dodger was deadly serious. “Alright your funerals,” Dodger heard,

    “Watch out!” From a random bandit and a firebolt smacked straight into a bandit, sending him flying. All the bandits slightly raised their weapons and Dodger chuckled.

    “Told you,” Dodger said and leaped up, punching one guy then jabbing the other behind him. Dodger grabbed his old iron sword, which was just a few yards away and swiped upward at a few bandits, sending them up to the sky. Firebolts smacked into the soldiers and Dodger ran straight at another bandit. This bandit had a different weapon this time. He had an axe in each hand and was slowly rolling his shoulders. He was big, almost as big as Dodger. Dodger lightly tapped his sword on the ground, and the bandit clashed together his axes. Dodger cracked his neck and slowly approached, the sounds of battle echoing around him, Dodger didn’t care. He was going to tear this bandit apart. The bandit yelled and charged straight at Dodger. Dodger ducked under the swings and swung his own sword up, meeting chain mail. The bandit staggered away, but was otherwise unharmed. He stuck up his finger and Dodger quickly darted forward, using his teleportation. He kicked the bandit, rolled away, summoned an arrow and threw it straight at the bandit. It missed and instead hit a Cole Castle guard facing the wrong way in the back. The guard fell immediately. Dodger jumped back from an axe swipe, and got the second axe straight in his mouth. Dodger stumbled back and felt another axe hit his back. Dodger blocked a third stroke and then went on the offence. He jumped forward straight towards an axe and caught it, breaking the hand of the wielder. The bandit cried out. Dodger turned the arm and brought his elbow down on the bandits. The bandit yelled and stumbled away from Dodger, holding his right arm. Dodger proceeded forward when suddenly another bandit ran in front. Dodger grabbed the bandits jaw, extended his sword and threw the bandits face into the sword, killing him. The bandit fell and Dodger grabbed the good arm of the other bandit. He tightened his grip, crushing the bandit’s wrist when he heard,

    “Stop!” Dodger turned, still holding onto the bandit’s wrist, his weapon clattering to the ground. Dodger looked down and kicked the weapon away. Dodger looked back up and saw the remaining five Cole Castle Guards looking at Dodger unsure, except for one. This man, obviously the leader, and the offender, had his helmet down, covering his face. Dodger looked at the other men and didn’t recognize any of them. Two had visors covering their faces. “I say again! Stop! Drop that mans wrist! We need him for interrogation!” Dodger titled his head. He recognized the voice. “Dodger, I say again, drop the bandit’s wrist, we need him,” Lyra came up behind them and crossed her arms. Dodger dropped the bandit’s wrist and went straight up to the leader. The three other guards all held up their blades and Dodger raised the visor of the leader. Dodger smiled.

    “Well, well, well. Corporal Enoch lives,” Enoch smiled, and pointed at his chest plate.

    “Its lieutenant now Dodge,” Enoch said and slapped Dodger’s shoulder.

    “What are you doing here Enoch?” Dodger and Lyra sat together, looking at the remaining five Cole Castle Guards. Dodger had become acquainted with everyone. The second-in-command, a sergeant, was named Dezerath. The other one had a red tunic with a belt, distinguishing him from everyone else. They called him Sir Byzantine. The other was named Throm. He claimed he was a Cole Castle Guard, yet he was found in the wilderness. The final one was an old squad member of Dodger’s, named Darren. No one knew his last name. “I also see that Darren stayed with you Enoch?” Enoch sat back, crossing his legs.

    “This isn’t the best place but yes. Darren wanted to come with me after Reginald and Jason left,” Enoch patted Darren. He looked no different after five years. “Also, no idea where you went, Aaron, Markus and Louis. They disappeared as well,” Dodger looked at his arm idly as Lyra asked a question.

    “So wait, Dodger, you had an entire squadron under your command?” Lyra looked at Dodger, and Dodger nodded.

    “Yeah, five years ago. Until Guy infused me with magic!” Dodger tightened his fist and almost broke his thumbs. Dodger picked up two rocks and idly shattered them to pieces. A few of the men inhaled quick breaths of air. Obviously they had never seen Dodger before, and didn’t trust him and his strength.

    “Look Dodge, everyone knew that was an accident. Jason was possibly the only one who pursued you,” Enoch was trying to cheer up Dodger, but it was not working. Dodger looked up at Enoch.

    “Yet you and everyone else, except Jason and Reginald insisted that I become a lab rat for Guy!” Dodger smashed his hand on the rock next to him, and split it. Enoch took this normal, along with Darren, but everyone else scrambled back. Enoch raised his hands.

    “Easy fella’s, Dodger usually has strength that crazy,” the guards slowly went back into their seats; Throm was last to get in. Dodger got up and offered his hand to Enoch and Dezerath. They took it and Dodger easy and gently raised them off their seats. He had to always watch his strength. Still they got jerked up. “I agree with you Dodge, we should get moving, otherwise more bandits may come along,” the men agreed and got up and started going towards the mine cart. Dodger held up his hand.

    “Hold up! Don’t bring it. In fact, change your uniforms with those of bandits,” the men looked at Dodger confused, but Enoch and Dezerath understood clearly. Enoch quickly took off his armour, while Dezerath took over Dodger’s commands.

    “You heard him! You need that other armour to make sure that if any bandits come here they will think we all died,” Dezerath looked for a bandit then took his armour. Dodger looked at Enoch.

    “You need to change your armour with the bandit. It will make the other bandits if they come by think we have a prisoner. Any bandits coming towards us means they came somewhere, so they can’t be suspicious of us,” Enoch understood and Dodger went towards the bandit prisoner. “Get up,” Dodger said harshly. The bandit meekly looked up. Dodger grabbed the bandit’s good arm and hoisted him up. “I said get up. Take off your armour and put on the leader’s,” The bandit slowly took off his right sleeve. Dodger snapped,”Faster!” and the bandit took off the rest of his armour, and put on Enoch’s. Enoch slipped on the bandits uniform and smiled at Dodger.

    “Well, lets hope this plan works. You gonna switch out or something?” Dodger shook his head at Enoch. He was going to be the leader.

    “I’ll look like the leader of us, and so I will show it and act like it. Tell your men that until we get to Cole Castle, they follow under me,” Enoch nodded and rounded up his men. Dodger looked at the bandit and shook his head. “Now let me tell you this, bandit. If I hear so much as a squeak from you asking for help, I will snap your neck so fast the sound barrier will break,” the bandit widened his eyes. “If you try to give away our position, I will kill you, by ripping out your intestines. Do I make myself clear?” The bandit quickly nodded and Dodger reaffirmed his makeshift handcuffs. The bandit meekly went ahead of Dodger just as Enoch finished discussing what the game plan was. Enoch looked at Dodger and clapped his hands.

    “Alright men. We will be okay and will make it with Dodger here. Now I know some of you lost your friends in this little ambush,” Enoch looked at the remains of his Platoon. “But let me tell you this men. Do not allow your thoughts to be clouded with grief. Instead, let your thoughts be clouded with glory, and honour, that you faced battle with these men, who are now with Notch. Allow us to tear apart any that wish to do us harm, who would do harm to these men. These men deserve our remembrance, not our pity. Let’s move out men!” The remaining men cheered and turned south. Dezerath appeared behind Dodger, with Enoch behind Dezerath. Dodger held the prisoner by the shoulder and they walked, heading to Cole Castle.

    [Carnival]

    “My lord! I cannot stop what has become!” Pale Eyes said. Crimson bellowed and Pale Eyes put his hands to his ears.

    “I gave you that Ender Eye simply to listen in on Dodger. Enderman may have given Dodger the radio but I am going to use it for my own use! Don’t fail me Pale Eyes!” Pale Eyes heard a quick extinguish and he was alone, alone to his own thoughts, alone to his own reasoning. His gut told him to not trust Crimson, however he felt complied to since Crimson raised him. The door to his tent flapped open and Carl entered.


    “Pale Eyes,” Carl went down on one knee and Pale Eyes waved his hand.

    “Don’t bow. I am not your lord,” Pale Eyes said with disgust. Carl nodded and stood up looking straight at Pale Eyes. Carl may have been resurrected as well, but he was an asset, and Pale Eyes was going to use him to the best of his ability.

    Back to Top
    DarkApostle999 and Ole_Byzantine like this.
  16. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 15: Ashes]

    It was an easy trip south. The only major challenge that they faced was going by another bandit group, obviously heading towards where Dodger met up with Enoch and Darren. Dezerath however did not seem interested in Dodger. He was a little behind Dodger and Enoch, with his hand on his sword at all times. The bandit in front of Dodger tripped and Dodger tightened the bandit’s shoulder. The bandit groaned and kept going. Dodger let his senses go dark and started listening, his eyes unseeing. He heard Enoch muttering to himself. Some odd calculations, bottles, potions, magic. The average thing Enoch talked about on the field. Dodger smiled and had reality brought back to attention as he saw a bandit group in the distance. He turned behind him, but Dezerath beat him.

    “Alright boys, this is it. Act natural, and act tough!” Dodger frowned a little bit. He never was able to get a sergeant like this. Dodger looked over behind the group at Lyra. She nodded and licked her lips some flames escaping her mouth. She was ready. Dodger looked at Enoch and gestured towards Dezerath.

    “Where do you find guys like him?” Dodger asked, tightening the bandits shoulder a little bit so that the bandit would realize Dodger was still on him. He turned to look ahead and heard Enoch say,

    “I got extremely lucky,” Enoch sighed and whispered. “They were going to pair me up with someone else. I denied and Dezerath was the next best thing. Glad I did,” Dodger chuckled slightly and shrugged his shoulders.

    “Should’ve called for me then,” Dodger heard Enoch laugh behind him.

    “You are a mercenary. Pretty sure the King doesn’t like mercenaries,” Dodger patted the bandit’s shoulder, making the bandit flinch a little.

    “Yeah I only became one because the rangers requested me to be one,” Dodger looked back at Enoch, and Enoch had a surprised look on his face. Dodger shrugged. “Yeah I’ve met the rangers. Can’t say I enjoy them thoroughly. They are stuck in their ways. They don’t expand their horizons. They stay cooped up in their mansion and they can’t defend themselves. They are a primitive little cult,” Dodger didn’t hear anything from Enoch for a while and before they met the bandits Enoch quickly said.

    “In all my years I never expected to hear you say that Dodge,” Enoch took in a quick breath. “You idolized them, you wanted to be them. You practically worshipped them!” Dodger held up his hand, having his squad stop.

    “And my distrust came as soon as I heard that one of the rangers gave a message leading to Lyra killing Pyros,” Dodger was suddenly very sure that there was a traitor within the Heartless Mansion. Enoch took a moment to form one word.

    “Who?” Before Dodger could answer, the bandit group finally met them. They shouted,

    “Halt!” However the command was useless, as Dodger had already halted the squad. The bandits halted too and looked at their cargo. Luckily for Dodge, these men were coming from somewhere. Obviously they came south somewhere. “State your business and cargo!” The leader said. Dodger looked straight at the bandit, unflinching.

    “Our business is to head back to the camp. We just came from a raid on a squadron of guards from Cole Castle. We lost a lot of men but also killed all other men except this one. We are taken him prisoner, and will interrogate him,” Dodger was not used to giving an all out report about a plan he made up, but he was on a roll. “They had a minecart however we couldn’t collect it with just seven people,” Dodger left that open, and was going to make a fool out of this bandit. The bandit frowned.

    “But there are eight of you,” he seemed to protest. He had about twelve men, and Dodger claimed to have seven. Dodger looked at their prisoner, dressed in the Cole Castle Guards uniform and looked back at the bandit.

    “I seriously doubt a man with a broken arm can so much as lift a stick, private!” Dodger had been trying his hardest to look at the man’s shoulder to see any mark of identification on what rank he was. He recognized the rank and found it a little offensive that this. However he wasn’t going to let his squad be delayed by trying to make a fool out of this bandit group. Dodger called out on the bandit, and showed his own authority as well. The private slowly shrunk away, and Dodger nodded. “Now we are going back to camp, and I will show this prisoner personally to our leader,” Dodger turned but someone in the other bandit group raised their hand.

    “Uh, sir. I seriously doubt she wants to see another prisoner,” the bandit said something that struck odd to Dodger. ‘She.’ The bandit said ‘she’ yet in all the history of the Hooded Bandits, not one time ever was a female the leader. Dodger almost stumbled but managed to just catch himself.

    “Well she will see the importance of this prisoner,” Dodger gestured for his squad to move out, and they did. A few seconds later he heard a few bandits wolf whistle at Lyra. Obviously they had just seen her. They suddenly yelled and Dodger heard scrambling, along with Lyra laughing. She had obviously just scared the living daylights out of the bandits. However it was a lucky stroke for them that these bandits had a woman as a leader. It made Lyra not as much of an oddity when Dodger and the squad had to get past a bandit group. However as Dodger neared the very end of the bandit group, he saw someone in chains. He looked at Dodger and put his hands together, near his face.

    “Please! Please free me from my captors! My name is Lewis! Please!” Dodger went away disturbed. The hooded bandits were always merciless when it came to slaves. However, this was the first time a slave ever talked when he was with the hooded bandits.

    “Wow Dodger! That was tense!” Dezerath exclaimed as they finally were out of earshot from the bandits. Dodger still had his hand on the prisoner the entire time. The prisoner didn’t even mumble. Dodger nodded at Dezerath.

    “Usually bandit’s will put their minors forward to test how good they are at speaking,” Dezerath shook his head at Dodger. Obviously Dodger’s little piece of information didn’t always happen.

    “I didn’t even realize or even think about it until you pointed it out,” Dezerath said, clicking his sword idly. The bandit in custody mumbled.

    “Can I go home now?” The bandit had been through a lot, Dodger realized. Dodger sighed and took out his full canteen.

    “Here, take a drink of this with your good hand,” Dodger gave it to the bandit, but then held up his hand. “You try anything fancy I get Lyra to set you aflame. You got it?” Luckily Lyra just came up to Dodge and the bandit. The bandit quickly looked at Lyra, nodded, then took a swig of Dodger’s canteen. Dodger was going to have to clean it at Cole Castle, if the king would allow him and Lyra into the castle. The bandit finished the canteen, literally, and handed it back to Dodger. Dodger frowned slightly. “When I said take a drink I didn’t mean the entire bottle,” the bandit chuckled slightly.

    “Oh well Dodge,” the bandit obviously thought it was being sly. Dodger squinted and then flexed his left hand. He was about to put his hand on the bandit’s shoulder and flip the bandit, when he felt a hand touch his left hand. He looked over and saw Lyra, and she slowly shook her head. Dodger looked past the bandit, and saw Enderman standing there. No one else saw him, not even the bandit. Enderman spread out his own hands and seemed to try and calm Dodger down. Dodger rolled his eyes.

    “Well, bandit,” Dodger said, quietly. “I needed to clean your filth off my bottle anyways,” Dodger rallied up the troops and pushed the bandit forward, continuing on towards Cole Castle.

    Dodger to his right and was seeing the sunset. He could lightly see the glow of torches coming from Cole Castle. He looked back at his squadron and noticed that some of them were straddling along, obviously tired. Dodger had made them hike a long way, and made it worse with the massive adrenaline rush. Dodger wanted to reach Cole Castle, but he knew that no one else could possibly match his stamina, even if they were Castle Guards. Dodger suddenly heard someone in the background.

    “Dodger! Can we stop for a second! Possibly for the night?” Dodger looked back and saw that Throm was the one who called out. So that’s what he sounded like. Dodger stopped the squad and looked at Enoch.

    “Yeah Enoch lets halt here. We are close enough so no bandits will come this way. Unload your gear on the side of the road. We are camping here,” Dodger needed to get away from everyone. He needed to consult with Enderman. He needed to do something other than walk. Dodger went over to where everyone was unloading and sat the bandit down. “You stay, or be slain,” Dodger looked and saw everyone was unloading all their gear. Dodger summoned an arrow and took off the feathers and flint. He threw them away on the ground and gave the sticks to Byzantine. “Here, make a fire. No bandits will come this way if they see a fire,” Byzantine nodded and saluted Dodger. Dodger quickly put his hand down. “You don’t need to salute or ‘sir’ me Byzantine. I’m just a man, not an officer,”

    “Sorry Dodge,” Byzantine said and started building a fire. Lyra came up beside Dodger. She sighed and looked up at the stars.

    “Does it feel good being back in a squad?” Lyra asked, still looking at the sky. A flame licked the side of her mouth. Dodger still would not be able to get used to that. Dodger looked back down at the road. Then checked himself.

    “No,” Dodger did not enjoy a squadron. He enjoyed a group, but this was a squad. “I do not like an official squad. I like squads that I’ve organized,” Dodger looked at Lyra, who seemed stunned with Dodger’s answer. “You were technically in my squad, along with Pyros, Pius, and Skimi,” Dodger checked his peripheral and saw Enderman standing there, waiting. Dodger looked back at the men. Byzantine successfully started a fire, and Throm was passed out. There was definitely something off with Throm, but Enoch and Darren seemed okay with him. Dodger looked back at Lyra. “I’m going to Cole Castle. Just see, nothing major. I am not ditching you guys,” Lyra nodded and Dodger went to where Enderman was before. He had obviously teleported away. Dodger went behind a tree and saw Enderman there. Enderman gestured at the tree stump. Dodger looked at it and saw a weird little black patch, not matching the rest of the tree. Dodger looked at Enderman, when suddenly, the world flipped upside down.

    Dodger slowly got up from the ground. The ground was of very fine gravel, Dodger concluded. Dodger looked up and saw the volcano bellowing massive amounts of smoke, ash and lava. Dodger seemed to see a sail from over the lava. Dodger looked to his left and saw Enderman.

    “An army, Dodger. An army. However, this army is unused. Nor is this army willing. This is the army of the dead, of mercenaries. They will only help, when fearing for their own ghostly lives,” Dodger looked up and saw the sail slowly waving back and forth. Dodger looked back at Enderman and found he had a voice this time.

    “So what can I possibly do with them?” Dodger was asking himself more than Enderman.

    “You can’t. They won’t listen to the living. And the dead don’t have debts to pay,” Enderman confused Dodger. What debts could he be possibly talking about? Suddenly Dodger was swept off his feet and was propelled towards a mansion over the water. He heard Enderman’s voice again. “You must come here, before you go back to Grimdale, if you have any chance of saving this world!” Dodger looked at Enderman and tried to yell at him, but his mouth was closed. He should not have wasted that one question. “You must find those who come here!” Enderman said and Dodger was propelled back into reality. Out of the tree, and straight into the waiting arms of the moon. Dodger had fallen straight on his back and was facing the moon and stars. Dodger coughed and got up. He was not used to ash in a dream. Dodger shook his head and was having a tough time making sense of what Enderman said. Maybe Dodger would talk to Enoch and Dezerath about what Enderman meant. Of course he would have to make sure not to mention Enderman. Dodger arrived at the camp and walked up to Enoch. Enoch smiled at Dodger.

    “Ah! So good of you to join us Dodger! Deciding to get used to the soldier life a little bit before you depart?” Enoch was joking of course but Dodger nodded a little bit.

    “I guess I better get used to it, seeing I’m sticking with you for a while longer,” Dodger sat down and picked up a stick. Dodger twirled it around his fingers, so used to the action. However when he did it too quickly he snapped the stick in half. Dodger sighed and threw the stick away, straight into an oncoming arrow. The arrow thudded straight into the stick, breaking another bit in half. Dodger automatically summoned an arrow out of pure habit, even though his bow wasn’t drawn. Dodger looked up and saw a bowman cloaked with the darkness, bow in hand.

    “Surrender now! We have you surrounded, and don’t even try and think about fighting back!” The male voice cried out. Dodger quickly hid his own arrow, making sure that the bandit couldn’t see his arrow. Dodger started regretting in making a fire.

    [Carnival]

    Pale Eyes looked over the Ender Eye. He was listening in on the entire conversation. Both of what Enderman said and the bandit bowman. Maybe getting rid of Dodger was already easier as it was. However what Enderman said about the ghost ship near the volcano intrigued Pale Eyes. They may not listen to the living. But they will listen to the dead. Pale Eyes was the first dead to have debts to pay. Pale Eyes looked over at Carl, wide-awake. Obviously Carl was waiting on something. Pale Eyes merely leaned back, intent on the Ender Eye.


    “Soon, Dodger. Soon, you will die. Soon I can please my master, and soon! The dead! Will! Be! Unleashed!!” Pale Eyes yelled at the ceiling of his tent, echoing throughout the undead Carnival.

    Back to Top
  17. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 16: Lights Out]

    Usually whenever Dodger saw a bandit, he would attack just like that, however this bandit was smarter than all the rest. Dodger had zero idea on where the bandit’s friends are, and had zero idea the capacity at which this archer’s aim was. Sure Dodger could simply teleport and dodge the arrow, but how could he possibly know what the bandit might do to others. Dodger slipped the arrow quietly in his armour, while still making it accessible. The bandit then played around with his bow, flipping it around while still having it in control. Obviously waiting on Dodger and his group. Dodger shook his head at the bandit. The bandit saw it and knocked an arrow and fired faster than Dodger could anticipate. The arrow thudded right in front of Dodger’s feet. Dodger almost teleported away, but forced his instincts to forgo that habit. Dodger looked up at the bandit.

    “You may be fast, bandit, but I don’t even need to draw a bow,” just as Dodger said ‘bow’ he launched his own arrow at the bandit. It missed him, but instead slammed a few inches from the bandit’s face. The bandit recoiled and looked back at Dodger. Dodger shrugged. “Now be gone bandit!” That was when the bandit got confused.

    “What? I’m not the bandit! You are!” The ex-bandit said, which started to confuse Dodger. Bandits didn’t call other bandits, bandits, unless those bandits were trying to escape the bandit life or this bandit wasn’t a bandit at all. Dodger shook his head in confusion.

    “Well if you are not a bandit then what are you?” Dodger tried putting the pieces together. A bluffer. Master of the bow, obviously a ranger, and he had a cloak on, making him almost fuse with the darkness. The first thought that came to his mind was Thyler. So he voiced it. “Thyler? That you?” The ranger seemed surprised by this answer. That was when he stood up and put his bow around his shoulder, definitely a ranger.

    “I’m not Thyler,” the non-Thyler said. Dodger looked a little closer and was just barely able to make out a face. It was Pyros.

    Dodger couldn’t believe it as Pyros shot out an arrow and had it stick to one of the nearby trees. Pyros grabbled from one tree to another and landed feet first near their camp. Lyra nodded and Dodger did the ‘ranger’ gesture with Pyros. As Dodger looked he noticed something… off with Pyros. Dodger decided not to worry about that and extended his hands. Pyros waved his hands and Dodger saw an iron sword move from the bushels and that was when Dodger saw people leaving from the encampment. Pyros was definitely not a bluffer. Most of the time. Dodger looked back at Pyros.

    “What happened after the Legion separated us?” Dodger needed a full recap in what happened. Pyros sat down near their fireplace. Thorm had awoken, and Darren returned from his patrol. Dodger guessed no one had heard a ranger story before. Pyros joined his hands together then lightly rubbed them. Obviously something troubled him.

    “Well, I will try to make this brief. After I said for us to retreat from the mass amounts of Legion men, I was actually meaning run for your lives. The Legion has three forms of men. Everyone calls them Legionnaires, but the highest ones, with the most battle experience are the Centurions. These guys are noticeable only by their gold armour and diamond swords. Their iron buddies were only their squad,” Pyros looked at Dodger. “And you killed off half of them, like as though they were training dummies,” Dodger shrugged slightly. He didn’t like being pointed out. Nor did he like being told that he could in fact kill every single person in Aeronaean if he so chose to, or needed to. Pyros continued. “So I told you guys to run. I grabbed Pius and Skimi and we went south, while I saw Lyra get tossed out from the middle of the Legions forces. I assumed it was you. That was when things got a little messy. One of the Centurions saw us run from the main group. His buddies all went after you, Dodge, and Lyra,” Enoch sat himself down realizing that the story would be longer than expected. “I ran with Pius and Skimi away from this brute. Centurions are built for battle. I was running and shooting arrows at the same time. I couldn’t do what you do with your arrows Dodge,” Pyros smirked a little and Dodger realized Pyros was meaning the arrow throwing stunts Dodger does quite a bit. Dodger shrugged and Pyros looked at Dezerath. “I ran out of arrows as well. So I went hand too hand combat with my knife. That was a terrible mistake. I broke my arm and Pius was dragging me back when Skimi ran after the Centurion. It’s madness to go after a Centurion by yourself, but Skimi did so. He charged the bandit, axe in one hand, sword in the other, and started riding him like a pig. He was stabbing and slashing the bandit to no avail. When it started to look like he would win, Skimi’s iron sword broke. Skimi looked down at it surprised and the bandit threw him off. By then Pius and I were safely behind the trees, but we could still see the grueling fate of Skimi. What happened?” Pyros shook his head and looked down. Dodger now realized that Skimi had died trying to save Pyros and Pius from a Legionnaire. “I saw it clearly, and it will never leave my mind. I saw the bandit pick up Skimi and throw him into a trunk. Might’ve been me but I heard a resounding crack from Skimi’s head. The bandit then threw him to the ground and Skimi had some last words. I will never forget them. ‘As one life ends, another follows. Be that as it may, your life is sorrow!’ The bandit chuckled at Skimi and brought out a small knife. I looked away at this time, but I heard the bandit burrow the knife deep into Skimi’s head. Skimi first shouted a cry of pain, then stillness except the sound of slushy skin being moved back and forth, and the bone cracking under the weight of the knife.” Pyros looked at Dodger and Dodger shook his head. Bandits were bandits, but they did some weird stuff. “They killed him, and his body is now worm food,” Pyros put his hands in his head and Dodger looked over south. He started thinking. That was when he heard Enderman.

    “Do not pursue that Centurion out of rage, Dodger. His name is Samuel Andaloro, an old soldier of Cole Castle. He defected simply because he did not view the king the same way as Carl did or Jason. Samuel is not a man to trifle with. And him being a Centurion simply means his combat has improved tenfold. Do. Not. Pursue him!” Enderman suddenly cut out of Dodger’s mind and looked at Pyros. He needed to ask Pyros one last thing. Dodger sat down beside Pyros.

    “Look I know it is hard to accept the death of an innocent, but I have one other question for you. What happened to Pius?” Pyros looked at Dodger and then realized that Dodger was meaning what happened afterwards. Pyros sighed.

    “Pius and I ran after the bandit left to join up with his Legion. We stumbled upon Pileus and he just… Stayed there. He said he didn’t want to move, didn’t want to eat, didn’t even want to ‘shroom’ as he called it. He just needed alone time,” Pyros acted like as though he couldn’t understand why Pius stayed behind at his home. Dodger looked at Pyros.

    “I think that seeing Skimi’s death made him feel sick. Lets just leave him for now, and we can contact him later on,” Dodger looked up towards the moon. It was almost midnight. Dodger looked at the squadron who all seemed very tired. “Well gang,” Dodger said and clapped his hands to get everyone to pay attention. “We are going to get some shut-eye now since we are obviously in safe hands being so close to Cole Castle. Lights out gentlemen,” Dodger was used to the grass and didn’t complain about not getting a bedroll. And yet he almost wished he did just like all the Cole Castle guards. Dodger shook his head and looked out towards the forest. Dodger thought about the wolves again, all those days ago, and didn’t want to mess around with resurrecting wolves. Dodger summoned a few arrows and took off the flint and feathers again and tossed them in the fire. He looked over at Lyra who idly cast a small flame to keep the fire going. Lucky her she could get infinite fire. Dodger sat on his back and looked up at the night sky. He heard Lyra sigh then whisper.

    “Dodger,” Dodger didn’t answer at first since he was tired himself. However after a bit he rolled over to look at Lyra. He propped up his head and looked at her. She did not look good. “Was Skimi the one who saved you from me?” Lyra obviously had never met Skimi. Dodger nodded slightly and Lyra nodded and put her hand to her mouth. She seemed almost upset and Dodger realized how affecting it might have been for Pyros. Pyros never liked seeing anyone go, maybe made him feel like he failed, but also might make him feel like a failure. Dodger realized that everyone was walking fine lines in their life. Dodger put his hand on top of Lyra’s. He whispered to her,

    “Everything is going to be alright. We are going to make it. Skimi sacrificed himself to make sure that Pyros and Pius made it safely. He chose his way to go, no one else decided for him. But just remember, when he was saving Pyros and Pius, he was saving you and me,” Lyra nodded and turned away from Dodger. Dodger got the message that the conversation was over and looked back up at the sky. He closed his eyes, and immediately fell asleep.

    Dodger looked around. He saw Enderman there again. Enderman pointed somewhere, but Dodger had no idea where. Enderman seemed to be shifting. Like a flickering image. Dodger went out to reach Enderman when Enderman suddenly dispelled into particles like Jason. Almost exactly like Jason. Dodger widened his eyes and looked down… at his hands. His suit was not on him. Instead all he saw was his clothes, and a small little slingshot in his left hand. Dodger looked up and saw his father preparing to loosen an arrow. Dodger was too surprised to react when an arrow suddenly went straight into… then through Dodger. Dodger looked behind him and saw the ghost ships. Fireballs, lightning bolts and frost beams extended towards the ships. Dodger was up in the air and saw the dead men floating off their ships. They went towards where the beams were coming from, but they kept withering away. Dodger got a closer look and saw that it was just one man shooting all these magic weapons. Suddenly the image halted and Enderman was beside him… floating.

    “This is your adversary Dodger. Pale Eyes,” Dodger looked closer and saw indeed that his eyes were pale, but Dodger could not move closer, or anywhere for that matter. “Pale Eyes was listening in on our radio chat. Crimson made the Eye switch to Pale Eyes’ channel once I gave you the Eye. I discovered his trick, and advise you to use it in the time of most desperate need. All you need to do, is switch frequencies on the side,” The Ender Eye suddenly popped up and Enderman showed Dodger where. Dodger had never really explored the Eye after Enderman gave it to him. He was always making a note of it, but kept forgetting. “Pale Eyes went to the ghost ships to seek their aid in taking over the world, but the ghosts refused. Pale Eyes, out of anger, fired upon the ghosts. The only difference between Pale Eyes, and you,” Enderman looked at Dodger. His purple eyes almost all knowing. “Is he was already dead,” Dodger didn’t understand. Who could it be then. Dodger asked,

    “Is it Carl Fern?” Dodger thought this was pretty reasonable but Enderman jerked his head back in surprise.

    “Carl Fern? Carl Fern is just a pawn for Pale Eyes. The REAL puppet master here is Pale Eyes,” Enderman pointed to the still image and the image started playing again. “That is why he can easily hurt the dead. He is undead, and he did not appreciate the dead’s answer,” Enderman looked at Dodger. “Now wake Dodger, it is almost morning. Go to the place I mentioned before Grimdale, and you will find a force you were not expecting,” Enderman dispelled into smoke and Dodger woke, the sunlight just showing beams to the ground. Dodger looked up and saw everyone was still sleeping. Except Pyros.

    [Ghost Ships]

    Pale Eyes was panting hard. That took a bit too much magic out of him to destroy the ghost’s port to their ships, along with killing any souls that tried to come after Pale Eyes. Carl came up behind Pale Eyes and looked upon the burning ships.

    “Not bad, Pale Eyes,” Pale Eyes looked at Carl and shook his head.

    “Are you seriously going to dupe me that just because Dodger and Crimson called me that?” Pale Eyes was annoyed at Carl. Carl knew exactly who he was, yet he was not going to use Pale Eyes’ real name. “It’s annoying enough, without you doing so as well,” Carl held up his hands and shook his head.


    “Well then maybe you shouldn’t have a last name like that. It sounds obvious, and pretty much saying what you are,” Carl had a point there but Pale Eyes would not admit it. He was stronger now then he was before when he hosted a small magic show at Carnival, which was overrun by the Zed.

    Back to Top
  18. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 17: Two Forces Collide]

    Dodger sat next to Pyros. Pyros was just sitting there, looking out towards the forest. The dirt road wasn’t the best road there was, but Dodger guessed the king didn’t want his castle to be too noticeable. Pyros leaned back slightly and sighed. Obviously he was going to talk about something. Dodger looked over at him.

    “You know Dodge,” Pyros started, Dodger prepared himself to listen. Pyros chuckled. “I feel like I am always on my toes after the attack,” Pyros was meaning Legion. “I just never thought I would have to have this feeling before. I’m guessing Skimi kinda…” Dodger sat down next to Pyros.

    “It doesn’t affect me the biggest Pyros. I barely knew him,” Dodger looked over and Pyros lowered his head. “He did save my life, which is the only reason why I am having this conversation with you right now,” Pyros looked back up at Dodger. “We are all in this together,” Pyros tilted his head.

    “Is this how you feel? As being a mercenary?” Pyros was just asking but Dodger did not like being branded a mercenary. Then again, Vos was the one who made him a mercenary.

    “I don’t know how I feel. I never considered myself to be a mercenary. More like an overpaid soldier who helps everyone,” Dodger rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. “Usually I got paid, but most of the time I denied it. Sort of a moral thing for me,” Dodger jabbed a finger behind him, south. “The only reason why I am now being talked of like a merc is because of your ranger leader Vos,” Pyros frowned in surprise. Dodger rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah. He asked me to accept contracts for you guys simply because of too many of your rangers being tasked. Apparently if you rangers go do contracts, you stay as a ranger. Me? If I do them, I get branded the title mercenary,” Pyros held up his hand.

    “Yet you accepted the contracts based off money,” Pyros may have been trying to make Dodger feel better, but it did not work.

    Dodger got up, “I only accepted it because I wanted to see rangers. Now I have a much different perspective of them,” Dodger talked a little harshly and Pyros stood up.

    “What are you saying? That we aren’t as you expected us to be?”

    “That is exactly what I’m saying,” Dodger turned south and looked down the road. Pyros huffed at him.

    “Yet you were the one searching after us,” Pyros grabbed Dodger’s shoulder and Dodger could feel his eyes starting to burn up. Pyros was not getting on his good side.

    “I only searched when I was a lowly soldier of Cole Castle!” Dodger knocked Pyros hand aside.

    “Right some good that did you!” Pyros said and pushed Dodger. Dodger went right back and put his forehead on Pyros.

    “Listen here, ranger,” Dodger snarled as he said it. “I have a different set of rules than you and Mr. Almighty back at Cole Castle,” Dodger put his arm between him and Pyros. “I go by my gut, not by the simple whims of a ranger who hired me to do his dirty work,” Pyros knocked Dodger’s arm away. He seemed absolutely livid.

    “How dare you! We only called you to help us!” Dodger pushed Pyros back.

    “Yet you seem to forget I was also on a contract!” Dodger said and Pyros shoved his way forward.

    “That contract was easy! It was one lone bandit! We have to down hundreds of them at a time!” Dodger laughed at Pyros and strolled away.

    “Give me a break Pyros,” Dodger turned and pointed at him. “You couldn’t even defend yourself against a lone centurion. It took you, Pius and Skimi to hurt him a bit, and you lost Skimi in the process. Would you have forgotten Pius too had the time been right?” Pyros accelerated towards Dodger at a fast speed, and pushed him.

    “I thought you said you weren’t affected by Skimi’s death!” Pyros was trying to get Dodger upset. It worked.

    “I am not affected by him!” Dodger yelled and threw his arm out. A few thick branches were in the way and they snapped under his mass velocity. “You are the one who’s bringing him up!” Pyros laughed this time and threw his cloak over.

    “Ah that’s where you’re wrong Dodge,” Pyros had vanished and suddenly appeared again, pointing at Dodger. “You brought him up, which means you miss him just as much as I do!” Dodger fumed and tele-dashed right in front of Pyros, a wave of energy escaping his suit. He could feel it rushing around, and could almost feel the sensation of it sweeping over Pyros, possibly killing him.

    “You are the only reason we are thinking about him right now,” Dodger had quieted his voice down, making it almost a whisper. “And because of you you let him die!” Pyros squinted his eyes and pushed Dodger away. Dodger was not willing and stayed put. Pyros pushed him again, harder this time and Dodger had enough. He let himself go and then swung his fist as fast as he could straight at Pyros head. Pyros ducked and grabbed Dodger’s arm, twisting it in the process. Dodger grunted and jabbed Pyros. It missed and he elbowed him instead with his caught arm. Pyros stumbled back and Dodger aimed a roundhouse kick at Pyros. Pyros ducked under and elbowed Dodger’s knee. He cried out in pain and stumbled away holding his elbow. Obviously Pyros forgot that Dodger had armour on. He grabbed Pyros by the back and threw him at a tree. Pyros rolled and smacked into the tree Dodger was aiming for. Dodger walked up to Pyros and grabbed him by the chest, lifting him up. Pyros struggled but Dodger’s arm was longer than Pyros. Suddenly Pyros reached out and grabbed his knife, striking Dodger. Dodger stumbled back, feeling his arm going a little numb. Obviously his body was trying to recover as fast as it could, it wasn’t fast enough as Pyros kicked Dodger in the back and sent him sprawling. Dodger regained his footing and looked over at Pyros. Pyros shot an arrow and Dodger caught it. Dodger guessed it was going to be like that. Dodger teleported as the next arrow zoomed towards him. He teleported a few steps away and another arrow came streaking towards him. Dodger had to do this a few more times. This was when something unusual happened. Dodger was about to do another teleport, closer to Pyros when suddenly he couldn’t. He looked down and realized he might have over exceeded his teleportation abilities, or was overheating his suit. Either way, when Dodger looked up another arrow was on its way. In a last ditch effort, he threw his sword at the arrow. It cut it clean and sailed towards Pyros, implanting itself right beside Pyros. Pyros yelled out in surprise and Dodger took this opportunity to run full tilt at Pyros. Dodger brought his fist up and threw it at Pyros. Pyros dodged it and Dodger’s fist hit the rock, splitting and cracking it. Pyros took this opportunity and sliced his knife under Dodger’s armpit. Dodger grabbed at it and brought his hand out of the rock, wiping Pyros in the face. Pyros slid back but managed to roll back on his feet. Pyros somehow also managed to loose off an arrow. Dodger didn’t want to risk the teleport when suddenly a fireball streaked and hit the arrow head on. Dodger looked over and saw Lyra standing there, fire licking her lips and flames reaching up her arms. She looked different, and absolutely livid. Dodger looked at Pyros and was about to charge when suddenly Enoch appeared in front of Dodger.

    “No! Dodger! Don’t! He is not our enemy!” Enoch looked terrified, and held his hands up high to keep Dodger’s attention. Dodger looked up at Pyros and then looked down at Enoch. He wanted to just shove aside Enoch and throw Pyros away, but looked over at Lyra. She still stood their, and shook her head slowly. Dodger figured that the world would end once he didn’t follow his gut, but he lowered his head and went away from Enoch. He looked over at Pyros and Pyros looked away. Dodger now realized how stupid he looked fighting with Pyros. And it was simply because Dodger did not want to be reminded of Skimi. He was still looking down when he came up to Lyra. She could still look at him though, since he was taller, and for once he felt like he was an utter curse. A monster sent upon this world for nothing more than to see it burn. Lyra looked up at Dodger.

    “I heard the entire thing. I just didn’t realize it got so out of hand. It felt like a dream to me. I literally had to force myself awake, like something was luring me to sleep. I understand you feel terrible, but it should not have gotten out of hand like that,” Lyra’s hands were still burning and she lifted Dodger’s eyes to meet her eyes. Dodger knew he could not establish his glowing eyes. “You hear?” For once Dodger didn’t care about the flames magic. All he wanted was to stay in this moment and forget everything. He knew he was going to have to agree so he nodded his head. She dropped her hand and Dodger looked over her shoulder. He did not see anything. No soul, no enderman, no nothing. Dodger looked over and saw Enoch instructing everyone. Pyros seemed to be fine and Dodger checked his side for any signs of blood. Nothing. Lyra looked down and looked back up at Dodger. Dodger turned and strutted slowly to Cole Castle. He knew everyone was going there, but Dodger did not want to travel in a group. Nevertheless, he could hear Lyra as she lightly followed Dodger’s slow strolling pace. Cole Castle was close enough that he didn’t need to hustle towards the castle. Nevertheless he was glad that he had a bit of company with him.

    Dodger, Lyra, Pyros and Enochs squad finally arrived at the castles gates. Usually you didn’t see a couple of mercenaries traveling together with a ranger and a squadron of the king. The king would get all huffy with the squadron for hiring a mercenary. What made it worse was that there was two of them. Dodger prepared for the storm of insults to be hurtled at his way. He had not been here for a long time, and didn’t exactly have a rolling reputation with the people of Cole Castle. However as he looked around he saw people smiling, and saw one person starting to clap his hands. More people exited their homes and shops. As more people came out to the streets more people started clapping their hands until suddenly a thunderous roar of voices and clapping could be heard throughout Cole Castle. Dodger looked around, confused. He never had this feeling before, nor did he ever get applause from people. This had to be a mistake. They were probably clapping for Pyros, or Enoch, but definitely not for Dodger and Lyra. That changed when he suddenly heard,

    “Yeah! Those mercs are awesome!”

    “Saved our men!”

    “I heard a great battle! I bet that one in the armour fought honourably!” Suddenly Dodger did realize they were talking about him. Obviously people had heard his little tantrum with Pyros. Dodger, totally oblivious to the fact that he had fought Pyros moments ago leaned in towards Pyros.

    “What the heck are they talking about dude?” Dodger had no idea, and neither did Pyros. He seemed just as confused as Dodger. People were calling out on people, and he heard a few people commenting on Lyra. Mostly her looks. Dodger looked around for them but Lyra was soaking it in, obviously appreciating the fact of being accepted. Dodger kinda liked the feeling, but hated the cost that it came with. He looked behind, thinking they had forgotten their prisoner, but they had not. However, he was now wanting to get away from Enoch and Dezerath, Thorm, Byzantine and Darren. Dodger wanted to leave them all. Dodger looked up and saw the king himself descending the stairs. And with him was Jason Tylon. Dodger smiled and went ahead of everyone else. He came to see Jason, not the king. However when he got close enough, he saluted the king instead of bowing.

    “Sorry king if I salute. I am not accustomed to bowing after I left,” Dodger looked over at Jason and Dodger held out his hand. Jason shook it and the king laughed.

    “That is fine Henry Barkov! However I do need a word with you, Pyros and your girlfriend,” Dodger frowned at the kings statement. He looked over and saw he was mentioning Lyra.

    “Uh no Cole, she’s not my girlfriend,” Dodger looked over at Jason in a ‘help me!’ attempt. Jason merely shrugged. Right what could he possibly do, he was still a soldier of the king. The king laughed at Dodger.

    “Sure she is. Come along Dodger,” The king put his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly. Pyros, Lyra and Enoch’s squad looked at the king a little confused. The king pointed at Lyra and Pyros. “You two! Come with me and Dodger. We need to discuss some things!” Dodger waited for Pyros and Lyra to come up the stairs. Pyros went in right after the king, but Dodger held back to wait on Lyra. Jason rolled his eyes at Dodger.

    “Not your girlfriend, eh?” Jason was making fun but Lyra didn’t exactly find it amusing. Dodger didn’t either. He let his eyes go into orange flame mode, but Lyra could do more than that and actually exhaled a bit of fire just as they were entering into the castle. Jason yelped back in surprise. He looked stunned, then made a full hearty grin at Dodger. “Not your girlfriend, but she is hot!” Dodger rolled his eyes and thumped Jason on the back of the head, just as the doors closed behind them.

    “Yet you forget your place Jason,” Dodger looked over at Lyra and she was busy observing Cole Castle. Jason was rubbing his forehead.

    “Yeah but I am still needing to get used to you thumping me on the head,” Jason rubbed his head and Dodger shrugged his shoulders.

    Back to Top
    Ole_Byzantine likes this.
  19. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 18: Contracts and Betrayals]

    Lyra was busy looking around at Cole Castle. Dodger didn’t need too, he had seen it way too many times. Jason took some notice in Lyra being bewildered by the castle, while Dodger wasn’t. Jason nudged Dodger and pointed at Lyra. Dodger looked back confused at Jason and then looked at Lyra. Jason rolled his eyes once Dodger looked back and waved his hand at the castle.

    “This is Cole Castle, Mrs. Barkov,” Dodger steeled his eyes and was ready to kill Jason. Jason realized something. “Oh wait a second… You don’t know Dodger’s real name!” Jason raised his hands about to explain to Lyra, however Lyra stopped Jason before Dodger could.

    “It’s okay sir. I don’t need to know Dodger’s name. All I need to know is the name he presented,” Lyra looked away and Jason held up his hands, confused. Dodger rolled his eyes and leaned towards Jason.

    “She called you ‘sir’ too. Pretty sure you don’t rank that high,” Dodger couldn’t pass it up, and the reaction on Jason’s face was priceless. He was befuddled, then livid. What made it better was when Lyra turned towards Jason.

    “Oh sorry, are you a private?” Lyra said it very calmly and very gently, but it held a lot of meaning. It was also in its way an insult to Jason. Jason stopped, and so did Dodger and Lyra. Jason put his hand to his chest.

    “Look girl, I am a lieutenant of the king himself, working under myself and instructing those to carry out certain duties,” Jason seemed to say that to the mirror each night but Dodger was not done.

    “Yes and also occasionally go beyond the kings orders and hire a merc,” Lyra raised her eyebrows at Jason and smiled.

    “Oh really? Have a contract for me?” Lyra was playing but Jason started to get confused.

    “Uh… what? I don’t… huh?” Jason had not realized that Lyra was also a mercenary. Dodger shrugged at Jason.

    “Yo dude, she is also a mercenary,” Dodger thought he had been clever, and Lyra too, until Jason smiled a weird sort of smile.

    “Oh really?! Well you two are perfect then!” Jason was joking but Dodger was getting sick of his joking… again. Dodger lightly thumped Jason and set him a few feet away from him. Jason stumbled, regained his footing and jogged back to meet up with Dodger and Lyra. “Ha ha very funny Dodge, I can always just ya know leave you guys,” Dodger rolled his eyes and looked up at the king, talking with Pyros. Dodger squinted.

    “I don’t understand what makes Pyros feel so high and mighty, and we have us, a couple of mercenaries and a soldier back here licking the kings boots,” Dodger didn’t want to rant, but he felt left out from time to time. Lyra rolled her eyes.

    “Dodge he is a corporation formed by the king simply to help his soldiers with the fight. Without them you wouldn’t have a nice peaceful world,” Lyra looked over at the main feasting hall. Dodger rolled his eyes.

    “Without them I would still be on the front lines,” Dodger said, wishing he was right now. Lyra smiled.

    “See! A positive thing!” Lyra threw her hands up a little bit. Dodger scowled at her, knowing full well no one could see his expressions.

    “No negative thing. Without them, I wouldn’t have this stupid magic enhancements,” Dodger was about to rant again, but he continued and actually interrupted Lyra in the process. “In fact did you know I found something different about what Guy Magician gave me?” Jason started getting interestedt again and leaned in closer to hear what Guy did again. “I have faster than normal healing. I can literally heal faster than all of you,” Dodger swung his hand around signifying the room. They were actually just going up stairs to go to the throne room. “All of you, simply because of Guy messing up his magic act,” Dodger looked back at the bottom of the staircase, at Lyra in the process. "And no one respects me because of the choices he made to me," The King made it to his throne and Pyros went to a corner and Jason went up to the left of the King, facing us. The King waved his hand in front of him.

    "Welcome back to Cole Castle Dodger and Pyros, and for you, Lyra?" The King looked at Pyros for confirmation. Pyros nodded and the King looked back up at Dodger and Lyra. "Yes Lyra. Welcome to Cole Castle, since this is your first time here," Cole lowered his hand and continued speaking. "I've had Pyros fill me in all that's happened, and I have some news for you Dodger," Dodger braced himself. He was probably going to be shunned from Cole Castle for attacking a ranger, have his head chopped off or to be hanged. He did not expect the kings answer. "You are a busy man Dodger. Vos was very concerned and wasn't sure if you had protected this ranger," Dodger was puzzled. No shun? Dodger got another surprise. "When Vos contacted me I'd told him what Pyros did. You," the King pointed at Dodger. "Fulfilled your deal and I have your payment. Also," Dodger was not following anymore but he did his best to listen idly. "Some mercenaries at Camp Azura came to me, looking for one of their own. Obviously you Lyra. I told them who and they asked me to give this as well to you Dodger," Dodger looked at the king hands and just looked at the few diamond blocks in the kings hands. These were for him? "You managed to complete many contracts Dodger, and without killing one person. You are definitely a different type of-" The King was suddenly cut off and Lyra stepped forward, furious.

    "Why on earth did my fellow comrades ask for me?! They seemed just fine forcing me away when I started talking to that enderman," As soon as Lyra said those words, Dodger was on full alert. Did she mean Enderman? Thee Enderman? Dodger didn't want to inquire but he was going to have a talk with that Enderman. Dodger instead tilted his head, glad for once his mask concealed his emotions.

    "Enderman? What's an enderman?" Lyra inhaled some breath, but Pyros beat her. He came out of the shadows, which made Dodger want to do he same thing someday.

    "An enderman is a tall dark figure with purple eyes," Pyros explained. "They sided with the skeletons long ago when we settled here," Dodger knew that. However, he did not know this. "They slaughtered us first, killing our women and children, and disabling our soldiers. It took five men to wound an enderman. They had a weird teleport ability like you Dodge, and we're strong. However no one had heard of them in a long time," Pyros titled his head, with a puzzled expression on his face. "In fact I thought our ancestors had already cleared them out," Pyros shrugged, thinking the same thing as Dodger. If Lyra saw them, they were very much alive. Dodger looked up at the King.

    "If they haven't yet attacked you Cole, then we have nothing to worry about them," Dodger was trying to reassure himself. The King was thinking than looked at Dodger and Lyra.

    "I'm going to take a few precautions. Within a few weeks I'll double the amount of forces I have. If I talk of an attack of old, I'll get more people agreeing with me," The King stood up and smiled. "But enough of being a bearer of bad news, here is your awards," The King came to Dodger and placed the diamond blocks in Dodger's hands. He than went over to the view overlooking his castle. Dodger leaned over to Lyra.

    "I'm assuming you don't want any of this due to your friends... Kinda forcing you out?" Dodger was just trying to be nice, but Lyra was not happy with her friends.

    "Which one is from completing that ranger contract?" Lyra said quietly but forcefully. She wasn't asking, she was demanding. Dodger showed her his left hand an Lyra swiped the blocks away from him. Pyros suddenly spoke up.

    "My King, are you alright?" Pyros seemed concerned for King Cole. The King turned and had a few tears drifting down his cheeks, and quickly rubbed them away.

    "I'm fine Pyros," the King sniffed and rubbed his eyes. "Just Veronica Pyros. That's all," the King sniffed again and raised his hands. "However! Now is a time for joy! We have a squadron back from a bandit attack, which means we are winning this!" Dodger wasn't too sure. This war was over, but rebellion was still in full force. Bandit attacks were becoming more frequent and families were burying more and more soldiers, while bandits had no respect for their dead, and left them where they fell. Dodger almost wanted to speak out, but the King was having a rough time dealing with Veronica, who had left the Cole Castle simply because she did not agree with what the King devised with bandits. Dodger started thinking back to Enoch’s squad when he looked at Jason.

    “Jason,” Jason looked over at Dodger. “Who is that Thorm person? He didn’t want to talk much about himself,” Jason thought for a moment, and then realized who Dodger was talking about.

    “Ah! Thorm came to us one time running away from bandits, he had an iron sword and iron armour on at the time, and offered intelligence if he could join us,” Jason looked down and frowned. “Last few intelligence reports have worked out too well. The bandits probably have a spy within our ranks,” Jason shrugged a little and looked back up at Dodge. “That is obviously going to change thanks to our King,” Jason looked over at the King and Dodger forgot how much Jason and him had looked up at their King. He was a man who seemed to know what he was doing, and shed the right amount of emotion for any kind of situation. Cole looked at Jason and smiled.

    “But now, you all shall eat! You,” Cole pointed at Dodger and Lyra. “You two can finally be at rest for being on the road for so long,” Dodger sighed and felt a bit more secure now that he was under the familiar protection of Cole Castle.

    Dodger looked up at the stars and wondered what he was going to do next. He was pretty sure Pyros didn’t want to go anywhere near him, and Lyra was still in a huffy mood. She was during the entire feast, which the King had spent a lot of time to prepare. Dodger was now just enjoying the mood of the night, and being alone. Truly alone now. He didn’t have anything to worry him. Not Enderman, not Enoch’s squad, not Lyra, not Pyros or Pius. Yes, Skimi was a stab for Dodger since Skimi did save Dodger’s life, and was also the one to look after Dodger while he was passed out in that campfire a few days ago. Dodger looked behind him and saw Throm in his weird painted armour and sword, which was sheathed. Dodger looked back up at the night sky, not feeling any threat.

    “How’s it going Throm? Didn’t expect to see you up at this time,” Dodger said idly, watching the moon moving slowly across the sky. Throm sighed slightly and inhaled before speaking.

    “I’m okay. I was told by Enoch to go up here and look out for any bandits,” Throm shifted positions and went away from Dodger, but still spoke loud enough for Dodger to hear. “These bandits are now just becoming desperate. They are no longer attacking us to weaken the King, but to generally slaughter us, possibly remove us from existence,” Throm stopped speaking for a bit and Dodger looked over. Throm was sitting on the ground, hands supporting him, looking up at the sky. He continued, “I have seen a few places where the bandits don’t bother to bury their dead, but instead stack them in piles, and either leave them or burn them. If they leave them, they stink like crazy,” Dodger looked away and looked at the horizon of trees upon him. He spoke up this time.

    “That I have seen before Throm. The only real sick part of it is that the bandits will actually mark their territory with their dead comrades. The officers don’t want to go in for fear of the stench, and the soldiers are more than happy to comply,” Dodger turned and looked at Throm, but he must have left. Dodger bit his chin a little idly now realizing he had just talked to himself. “Yeah it’s never fun to see something like that,” Dodger sighed and was about to turn around when suddenly he heard a footstep… and a knife scraping quickly against his suit. Dodger turned around, and saw Throm, holding a little knife in bewilderment and then looking up at Dodge. His eyes went wide in surprise, unsure what to do, then his face went sour. Throm was not who everyone thought he was. Throm threw his arm up and dive bombed his knife straight for Dodger’s neck. Dodger got out of the way and smacked the knife, making it bounce and hit the stairs on the way down. Throm had a mad expression on him and grabbed Dodger’s helmet. He threw Dodger around and all Dodger could see was a blur. Suddenly Dodger grabbed Throm around the waste and ran forward. Throm panicked, and let go of Dodger’s helmet. Dodger stopped, feeling a bone crack in Throms back, then quickly threw him behind straight into a pillar that was part of the tower. Dodger quickly turned and ran at Throm, picking him up by the face and slamming him two times against the pillar. After the second time he stopped and looked at Throm in the only eye he could see. Dodger squinted right at Throm. “What the nether was that about?” Dodger said in a quiet but demanding voice. Throm’s single eye looked around and he spoke in a muffled voice through Dodger’s glove.

    “I was thinking I could kill you, take your suit and capture the king for my bandit group,” Throm sighed, realizing he could go anywhere, along with his head bleeding down his face. Dodger nodded and lifted him a little higher.

    “What is your bandit groups name?” Dodger had two plans for Throm, and it depended on Throm’s answer. Throm spat in Dodger’s glove.

    “That I am not telling you,” Throm seemed proud in holding this information, Dodger however was not.

    “Alright than Thorm,” Dodger placed Thorm down just a little ways from him, while still holding onto his face. Dodger stuck out his thumb. “This thumb, will tear that one eye out,” Throm’s eye went wide in shock then he started to struggle, not wanting the consequence. “Fine, then tell me what your bandit groups name is, and where they are,” Throm steeled himself and shouted.

    “Never Dodger!” Throm said. “I would rather lose my eye!” Dodger lowered his eyes and nodded.

    “So be it,” Dodger jabbed his thumb within Throm’s eye socket. Throm cried out in pain and Dodger kept digging deeper, feeling around. Blood was squirting out from Throm’s eye, and some nerves were flying out from Throm’s twitching. Dodger kept his merciless campaign in digging out Throm’s eye. He felt the optic nerve within Throm’s eye, and started to idly cut his optic nerve, along with scraping the edges of the eye socket. Throm started screaming a blood curdling scream, and was waving his arms around, slamming at Dodger’s right arm to get Dodger off of him. It was to no avail as Dodger finally severed the optic nerve, and popped out Throm’s right eye. Blood started gushing out of Throm’s eye, and Dodger let go of Throm. Throm fell to the ground and Dodger picked him up by his collar. He went down a few flights of stairs into the dungeon, when one guard halted Dodger.

    “Halt! What are you doing with Throm?” The guard seemed generally concerned. Dodger moved his head left to tell the guard to move out of the way.

    “Throm is part of a bandit group, and I’m throwing him in the dungeon,” Dodger said not wanting any question from the guard. The guard looked at Throm’s eye and then back at Dodger. “I don’t want him to have medical attention,” Dodger said again, and the guard nodded. They went to a cell within the dungeon, and the guard unlocked a gate. Dodger nodded at the guard, and threw Throm in. Throm landed on the ground and groaned, still holding his right eye. Dodger closed the cell and the guard locked the gate. “I will be back Throm, get some rest, you are going to need it,” Dodger said and looked at the guard. The guard nodded and Dodger left the dungeon, and the groaning Throm.

    Back to Top
    Ole_Byzantine likes this.
  20. Dodger546 Regular Member

    XP:
    12,656xp
    [Chapter 19: Torturous]


    Dodger woke up early in the morning, feeling very refreshed. He remembered how Throm had tried to kill him simply to get the King for ransom and fund his bandit group. Whoever this bandit group was, they were different. What their intentions were was unknown to Dodger, but he was going to find out through Thorm. Dodger got out of bed and opened the door to come face to face with Enoch, Dezerath and Darren. Lyra and Pyros were just coming up behind them. Dodger titled his head back while still looking at Enoch.

    "Uh... Is there something wrong?" Dodger wasn't sure what they were standing at his door for. Enoch tilted his mouth but Dezerath was the one to speak.

    "We are here because we want to accompany as you interrogate Throm," Dodger did a sort of sideways look at Dezerath and looked at Enoch for confirmation. Enoch nodded and Dodger hung his head. All he had wanted to do was find out Throm's little cult then leave the man out to dry. With Enoch, Dezerath and Darren, it was going to be harder to interrogate Throm. Throm had gained the trust of everyone. The only reason why Dodger came suspicious of him is when Throm tried to slip a knife into his neck. Dodger shook his head at Enoch.

    "I'm sorry Enoch. It will be harder for me to find out about him if all you guys are here," Dodger looked up to see Pyros and Lyra. Dodger nodded his head. "I do however want Pyros there with me," Dodger looked at Dezerath. "Just in case Throm tries anything," Enoch's eyes went wide with surprise, then rage. "If a ranger can come, we can come!" Dodger rolled his eyes and looked at Lyra and Pyros. Byzantine was just running up behind them now in his unique uniform. Pyros nodded at Dodger and Dodger sighed.

    "Alright, alright we will all go. But Pyros," Dodger pointed at him. "If Throm starts calling out to these guys, send them out, and if you can't make it, make sure you do Lyra," Pyros and Lyra nodded. Dodger rubbed his hands and gestured for everyone to follow him.

    The guard from last night was there again today. The guard stood at attention as Dodger came into the dungeon. Dodger rounded the corner and saw the King and Jason staring into Throm's cell. Jason looked over at Dodger and came up to him.
    "He's not talking Dodge," Jason said as soon as he came up to Dodger. Dodger rolled his eyes at Jason and the king.

    “Of course he is not talking, he doesn’t want to talk, all he wants to do is possibly sit in his cell and grope about his eyes,” Dodger was just meaning that Throm was bored, and was possibly a little upset at Dodger. However, it seemed like Dodger’s little hunch was right. Jason rolled his eyes.

    “He actually is mumbling to himself. Cursing you, calling upon his leader, the whole works,” Jason again rolled his eyes at the thought. Dodger shook his head as well. It wasn’t going to affect him that some crazed psychopath was wanting to kill him to take prisoner of the King. Dodger told everyone to halt and turned towards Pyros.

    “Pyros, your coming in with me, just in case,” Dodger waited for Pyros’ confirmation. Pyros nodded and Dodger turned towards Jason. “Jason, make sure only us, and just us enter or leave that gate,” Jason nodded and Dodger motioned for Pyros to follow him. Pyros was right behind him as Jason opened the gate. Throm was huddled in a corner, holding his eye socket. Dodger came up to him and heard the gate close. Dodger spread out his hands. “Well Throm. It’s just you and me,” Dodger looked over at Pyros and nodded. Pyros quickly receded in the shadows and disappeared from sight. Throm sighed and opened his eyes. He looked bleakly up at Dodger, removing his hand to reveal a very pussie eye socket. Dodger bit his lip idly again.

    “Just us. Yet Jason and the King over there can hear everything we say,” Throm said and was idly twisting his sack cloth that the jail guard had switched him in. Dodger went up to Jason.

    “Give me his armour and sword,” Dodger said, and Jason hurriedly went to where the confiscated items were. Dodger heard movement behind him and saw the King’s eyes went wide and he raised his hands. Dodger turned, caught a fish directed at his head and jabbed Throm in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. Throm fell to the ground and coughed up blood just in front of Dodger’s boots. Dodger looked over at Pyros and saw that Pyros had stepped out of the shadows a little bit. Dodger shook his head, and Pyros went back to invisibility. Dodger looked down at Throm, and Throm was holding his stomach, coughing up blood. Dodger picked him up and shoved him towards the wall. Throm was too weak to fully complain. Dodger crouched in front of Throm and tilted his head. “You could just tell us and we would be done with this,” Dodger said lightly. Throm shook his head, pursed his lips and spat blood at Dodger’s mask. Dodger flinched slightly and stood up. He turned and went towards where Jason was holding up Throm’s stuff. Dodger wiped away Throm’s blood and took the armour and sword from Jason. Dodger looked over at the small group of people listening, and Enoch was holding his head in one hand. Dodger turned and went up to Throm, who was lying down on the floor still. Dodger looked at the paint that was overtop of his armour. Dodger looked at Throm. “Why is this painted?” Dodger asked. Throm chuckled.

    “I paint it simply to make me seem less of a threat. It works very well,” Throm said. Dodger looked at the armour and started to idly dig at it. The paint started to fall off and Throm sighed. Dodger looked over and saw that Throm had stopped having his mouth open, and instead was looking at the armour. Dodger saw that he was still breathing and continued to dig at the paint. It was showing a weird symbol, like a large A mixed with a sort of half circle around the A. Dodger had never seen this symbol before, and noticed that the colours were red, black and gold. Dodger looked at Throm.

    “What is your cult Throm?” Dodger was wanting an answer. Whatever cult this was, it was using an Alpha and an Omega symbol, which usually meant a sort of doomsday cult. Dodger sighed and looked at Throm, whom he was still not getting an answer. “Well Throm?” Dodger knew the answer.

    “You will have to kill me first,” Throm said, smiling.

    Dodger had led Throm into the torture chamber. He had done this before, and had hated every second of it. Dodger had to find out what type of cult this was and he had to find out fast in case another one of its agents was to try and pull the same trick as Throm… and succeed. Dodger looked from room to room but none of the tools appealed to him, nor did he want to go back into them. Suddenly one did catch his eye, and he saw that it was a Torture Rack. The King had explained a few years ago that this was left over from one of the ships that they had. Dodger looked down at Throm and then looked over at Pyros who had followed. Throm hadn’t been too keen on seeing Pyros was in the room the entire time. Dodger shook his head and led Throm into it. Throm was not too pleased with this either but he had to comply otherwise Dodger would’ve made this worse. Dodger placed Throm on and tightened the ropes attached to the rack to Throm’s ankles and wrists. Throm sat there as his eye had reopened and was bleeding idly. Dodger went straight up to Throm who was simply staring at the ceiling.

    “I am going to give you this opportunity Throm to forget this torture and come clean to me about what your cult is, and where it is situated,” Dodger hated torturing, but he needed the information, and for once he was glad he was in Cole Castle. Throm didn't respond this time. Instead, all he did was shake his head. Dodger lowered his and braced for what he was going to do to Throm. He stood up. “Alright then Throm. You now leave me no choice,” Dodger grabbed the sword and looked at the little symbol at the very hilt of it, the rest disguised as wood. Dodger brought it up to Throm’s face. “What is this?!” He yelled. Throm scrunched up his face and yelled back.

    “I don’t know!” Dodger didn’t accept the answer and went to the winch beside the rack. He moved it forward slightly and Throm was suspended between his ankles and wrists. Dodger went back to Throm.

    “What is this?!” He yelled again, and got the exact same answer from Throm. Dodger, was still unsatisfied with the answer and pulled more on the winch. Now Throm was being stretched and he gave a slight grunt of discomfort. Dodger came back and asked again. “This symbol! This symbol is of a cult! What is your cult’s name?!” Dodger yelled, keeping his face real close to Throm’s Throm yelled in his face,

    “I don’t know!” Dodger grabbed Throm’s bad eye and Throm cried out. He heard the bars rattle and looked over to see Enoch grabbing onto them. Pyros was holding his shoulders lightly, but firmly. Dodger averted his gaze and continued trying to work something out of Throm. Dodger let go of Throm’s eye and Throm tried to reach it. Just as he did Dodger moved the winch forward some more and Throm’s arms were snapped back. Throm cried out and Dodger went back up to him. “You can stop this right now if you tell me what this symbol means!” Dodger was being serious but Throm was still not listening. Dodger moved the winch forward more and Throm cried out. Dodger realized he was going to have to make things worse for Throm. Dodger grabbed the chestplate and shoved the Alpha Omega symbol straight in his face. “This symbol means something for your cult! What is your cult!?” Dodger was getting impatient now. Not many people had been tortured before, and if they had, they were pretty light hearted about the ordeal. Throm denied knowing it again and Dodger moved the winch forward even more. Throm cried out and Dodger spat into his mask while speaking. “Listen here Throm! I won’t hesitate to rip off each of your limps and have you see them dangling in front of you until you die,” Dodger put his finger to Throm. “And I will make sure you STAY alive to witness what I will do to you if you don’t tell me,” Dodger said and Throm pursed his lips, obviously in pain, but he wasn’t ready to admit it. Dodger shrugged. “Alright, your choice,”

    Dodger grabbed the winch with both hands and looked at Throm. He slowly moved it forward. Throm was getting more and more uncomfortable, and in more pain.

    "Where is your cult?!" Dodger yelled at Throm. Throm screamed,

    "I don't know!" Throm was having his limbs being stretched

    "What is it?!" Dodger yelled again. He moved the winch forward. He got the same response until finally Throm finally let up. He was in mass amounts of pain, and tears were coming out of his eyes.

    "Alright! Alright, alright. I'll confess, just please stop. Please," Throm looked at Dodger. "Please stop," Throm looked up at the ceiling, his limbs stretched near the point of breaking. Dodger let the winch go and Throm flopped on the rack, his limbs relaxing. "They didn't train me for this," Throm cried. Dodger went up beside him.

    "Who didn't train you for what?" Dodger was still not going to be nice with Throm. Throm was taking in quick slow breaths.

    "The people who you are looking for," Throm looked Dodger. "They call themselves Omega," Throm said with tears in his eyes. Dodger was still not getting the information he needed.

    "Where are they staged?" Dodger shifted his position. "Where is their location? Who is their leader?!" Throm broke down crying now, he was still constricted to the rack.

    "They are at The Shire!" Throm hollered. "The leaders name is Sible! He wants nothing more but to destroy our society!" Throm gasped, but it sounded more like a choked cry. "He is not afraid of anyone!" Dodger peered straight into Throm's eyes.

    "He has not met me," Dodger looked over to the bars, and saw only the King, Pyros and Lyra. The king shook his head and Pyros was just standing there. Lyra simply shook her head. Dodger admitted it wasn't pretty, but Dodger was not done with Throm. Throm made the mistake of attacking him, and he was going to pay in full.

    Dodger threw Throm into a simple four walled room with a lone chair. Throm gasped and led himself to the chair sitting on it. He was a pitiful creature. No eye, no sense of feeling, no honour. Throm looked up at Dodger, panting heavily..

    "So what happens now?" Throm was tired and depressed. He had just given away the location and name of his cult, along with the leader. Dodger was not yet done with him. Dodger went behind Throm's chair and tightened some bonds around Throm's hands. Throm grunted. "Sheesh dude, these bonds hurt!" Dodger didn't care and walked straight up to Throm. He crossed his arms, unimpressed with Throm.

    "Throm, what makes you think that I will just," Dodger moved his hand out in a sort of exploding manner. "Let you go? The king has taken everyone to the throne room for debreifing, and it is now just me and you in this tiny room," Dodger started pacing around Throm. "What makes you think I will just let you go to run back to The Shire and let you tattle on Sible, what makes you think he wants you back," Dodger had fully round and grabbed Throm's chair, making him almost fall to the floor, but Dodger had full control of it. "What makes you think I will leave here, letting you live?" Realization dawned and Throm and he started fidgeting. Dodger put his chair down.

    "They will come for you, they will murder you," Throm spat at Dodger, his voice taking a very deep dark tone. "They will make you understand pain and suffering, you will- ack!" Dodger grabbed Throm's tongue and looked him in the eyes.

    "You talk too much," Dodger said and yanked Throm's tongue out of his mouth. Throm screamed and Dodger shut his mouth. "Your screams will not help you, no one trusts you any more," Dodger slowly took his sword. "I promise you this, you will not leave this place alive!" Dodger brought his sword to Throm's chest, but Dodger was going to make Throm live as long as possible to his demise. Dodger placed his sword on Throm's chest and rested it there. Dodger shook his head and sliced downward, opening the chest of Throm. Throm cried out and Dodger sheathed his sword. Throm looked down at the recently opened wound. It wasn't to major. Throm looked up at Dodger.

    "ou guggee ee!" Throm yelled and Dodger smiled. He figured Throm could see his face before his death. Dodger slipped off his helmet and looked straight into Throm's eyes. Throm seemed surprised.

    "Before your death, you will see who is your murderer," Dodger went back and shoved his hand through the open wound of Throm. Throm cried out in pain while dodger opened the wound futhur. Blood flying out as Dodger opened Throm's chest even more. Finally it was wide enough for Dodger to fit his hand fully through. Dodger grabbed something and burst it. In its place, white blood started spilling out instead of red. Dodger went in again and burst the lungs. Throm started choking as his screams were no longer getting enough air. Dodger went in deeper and grabbed the spine of Throm. He pulled until he felt something give, and Throm's chest split open, his ribs and heart spilling out on the floor with his white blood. Throm started choking and Dodger lifted his head, staring into his one eye.

    "Go to Crimson Throm," Dodger muttered and let Throm's head fall. Dodger got up and placed his helmet back on. Dodger shook his head. He now had a location, he had evidence, and he had a cult to kill. As Dodger left the containment room a couple of guards met him and looked at the mutilated body of Throm. They looked Dodger unsure of what Dodger was planning on doing. Dodger gestured his head towards Throm. "Burn the body. He does not deserve a burial,"

    Dodger came into the throne room after he cleaned up Throm's blood from his arms and face. As he came in he noticed Pyros, Lyra, Enoch, Darren, Byzantine and Dezerath. Dodger walked into to everyone having a meeting. Lyra was sitting down near the edge of the room, holding her head in her hands. Pyros had his arms at his sides, his fists clenched. Dezerath was talking avidly with Enoch to the king. Byzantine and Darren were a little behind everyone. Byzantine turned towards Dodger and rushed towards him.

    "You need to talk sense into Enoch and Dezerath!" Byzantine said quietly. Dodger pushed Byzantine out of the way and moved aside Darren. Enoch stopped and looked at Dodger while Dezerath still talked to the king.

    "Going anywhere to The Shire is suicide, we would be fighting a losing battle, we'd be wasting resources going after a myth," Dodger moved Dezerath aside. He seemed surprised on how quietly Dodger came up. Dodger looked up at the king.

    "Alright then king. If you won't spare any troops to stall this cult, I will," Dodger looked at Pyros and Pyros seemed to relax. Lyra was now looking up at Dodger. Dodger turned back towards the king. "Throm is dead, ad died a traitors dea-" Dodger was cut off by Dezerath.

    "You killed Throm!!?!?" Dezerath yelled and threw a fist at Dodger. Dodger turned, grabbed it, flipped over Dezerath and stretched his arm out, grabbing Dezerath's head in the process. He turned Dezerath's head away from his arm in a breaking gesture. All of this happened in one swift move. Lyra had her hands on fire and Pyros had his knife poised at Dezerath's neck. The king had raised up his seat slightly, Enoch and his squad had their swords ready and a couple guards had their swords on Dodger's neck. Dodger knew that a Mexican standoff had happened with Dodger simply defending himself. But he was a mercenary. So was Lyra, and not many people trusted rangers. Dodger did not have too many people on his side, until he heard the king say,

    "Stand down! All of you!" The king said to everyone. Dodger let go of Dezerath and pushed him away. Dezerath brushed himself off and Pyros put away his dagger. Lyra calmed down and everyone else sheathed their swords, except Dodger. The king looked absolutely furious.

    "Dodger, I know you were going to The Shire, and I will give you any resources you need to attack this cult!" The king was not happy and neither was Dodger.

    "With all due respect sir, I don't want any money for this, this is more personal," Dodger had torn apart Throm, and he planned on placing The Shire into ruins. The king nodded at Dodger.

    "I didn't expect you to Dodger, all I expect is that this little cult burns to the ground once you are done with it. Clear Dodger?" The king said in a raised voice. "Consider yourself reinstated for now, Major Barkov," Dodger thought he was supposed to feel good about his rank, but all he felt was dread. He didn't want to be a soldier of the king. All he wanted was to do his own thing. But he did understand the kings reasoning. If Dezerath understood an authority figure, he would be more agreeing to go. Dodger nodded at the king.

    "Yes King Cole. It will be done, I will bring this cult to its knees," Dodger said, saying each word truthfully. He was going to destroy Omega.

Share This Page