Mark of the Fool

Chapter 540: Taking the Bull By His Horns

Kyembe! Alex called, floating above the Spirit Killer.

Ah, my friend! You are just in time for what is not my last stand! the warrior stabbed a blazing sword through a tiashiva, blowing it to bits.

Alex raised his staff, conjuring a wave of hell-boars to keep the demons back, giving his ally some breathing room. They appeared instantly, rolling over the enemy, trampling as many as they could before they were cut down by pazuzites.

But the precious moments they'd bought Alex, served him well.

I have a plan. If I buy you some time, could you charge up your ring? Alex asked Kyembe. I mean the big charge, like the one you used on his archivist.

I was just considering that. he glared up at Kaz-Mowang as he skewered another tiashiva like an overripe fruit. What is your plan?

Alex nodded to a spot between Claygon and the Spirit Killer. Charge your ring and aim it right there when I tell you.

Kyembe glanced at Claygon, then gave Alex a grin dripping with malicious glee. Simply say the word, my friend.

The young wizard nodded, conjuring another horde of monsters. By now, he could feel the staffs energies beginning to wane, but he wouldnt need them for much longer.

As hellhounds and taraneas joined with Ezeraks remaining painted monsters, they rampaged through the enemy, buying Kyembe precious seconds.

Alex flew up, hovering over his golem. Claygon, he called through their link. Prepare a blast of fire.

Yesfather the golem answered, punting a tiashiva across the battlefield.

Alex turned his attention back to Kaz-Mowang.

Overhead, the greater demon still struggled with Ripp as air elementals zapped his flanks with lightning bolts. The swiftling sped around his shoulders, using his daggers like spikes while rolling away from Kaz-Mowangs trident and outstretched claws.

Alex flew toward them, planning to take advantage of Ripps distractionwhen a huge mana shift fanned out.

Abruptly, the greater demon lit up like a burning pine tree, encased wholly in golden lightning.

Ripp screamed as bolts of electricity ran through him.

Ripp! Alex cried, sending air elementals forward.

But the enormous demon swept them away with a volley of sharpened spurs from his palm. He reached up, plucking Ripp from his shoulder as though he was simply removing a burr from his cloak.

Heres a lesson for you, jester. As your little friend can feel, my trident isnt the source of my power, the bull-headed demon was all confidence. It merely conducts: the power is all mine, and I can release it as I please, which is unfortunate for your friend here.

Fixing his eyes on Alex, he spread his jaws

and clamped down on Ripps thigh.

Bone crunched, and the stunned mercenary howled, blood running down his leg, pooling on the stone below.

Let him go! Alex shouted, conjuring more elementals, sending them at the demon. Leave him be!

Kaz-Mowang simply nodded. A voice spoke in Alexs mind. As you wish.

He shook Ripp about like a dog with a toy, then flung him away with a toss of his head.

No! Alex shouted, shooting toward Ripp, waving his staff and conjuring another cluster of air elementals below the plummeting swiftling.

Get him! he shouted in a tongue of air elementals. Catch hi!

A pazuzite reacted, launching itself between the air elementals and Ripp.

Golden lighting shot straight at Alex, preventing him from helping his companion.

Calm yourself. Kaz-Mowang snorted, rolling his eyes. Remember, Im trying to capture you, not kill you. What happened with your orc friend was unfortunate, as most accidents are, his eyes were focused on the swiftling cradled under the pazuzites arm.

Ripp was in rough shape, his leg hung down, mangled with the thigh bone shattered.

His complexion paled as his lifeblood ran free.

Without aid, hed have minutes at most.

Stop fighting! Kaz-Mowang roared. Ill see to it that your friend is given the proper healing he needs if you throw down your weapons and come back with me. Now. If not, my servant will tear open his wound further and hell be dead in heartbeats. Come now, Im trying to be reasonable!

Reasonable, this, Thundars voice boomed.

The minotaur suddenly leapt at the pazuzite hovering a half dozen feet above the battle, his mace swinging.

The creature whirled, an arm raised to defend itself.

but it never saw the force bolt the real Thundar fired through a copy of himself.

The minotaurs image shattered, as the bolt drove through the pazuzites skull. Ripp slipped from limp hands, and the air elementals were there, catching him on cushions of wind.

The mercenary was safe, but bleeding heavily.

Alex needed to be quick.

Kyembe, now! he cried.

You need not even ask, the Spirit Killers power blazed, his ring shining on his hand.

Alex flew right for Kaz-Mowang, sending instructions to Claygon. Charge your fire-beams buddy, well need your power. Aim for the spot in front of the portal!

Yesfather! The golems excitement bled through their link, and the young wizard felt his power gathering.

Now it was Alexs turn.

Kaz-Mowangbleeding from dozens of wounds on his facesmirked down at him with a relaxed slouch to his shoulders. It was as though he was sure he was in complete control, yet Alex saw his gaze flick to Kyembe and noticed slight tension in his shoulders and trunk.

He was preparing to dodge the hellfire.

But Alex had other plans for him.

Hey, why the hell would you think wed work for you if youd throw away your own subordinate to keep yourself alive? he called, drawing on his staffs ebbing energies to conjure a flight of air elementals around him.

Because you have sense. Kaz-Mowang casually raised the trident, golden lightning playing along its prongs. His other hand was levelled at the Thameish wizard, and barbs were already springing up from his palm. Of course I would prioritise my life over my servants, what emperor wouldnt? But youre competent enough not to need to worry about that, no? Im sure you wouldnt have let yourself be caught by hellfire so easily. Youre sododgy, after all! Case in point!

The demon fired a lightning spear, the young wizards skin tingled as he rolled past it. With a wide grin spreading over his bloody face, Kaz-Mowang unleashed a torrent of bone spikes, tryingto lead himas the young wizard ducked and rolled through the air.

Alexs hair sparked, lightning crackled around him, missing him by breaths. Spikes whizzed by his head, the aeld staff pulsed in fear as one narrowly missed setting it ablaze.

The young wizards heart thundered in his chest: Kaz-Mowangs life draining magic was hitting him hard, fatigue was building, threatening to force him from the fight. His lungs burned.

His muscles were weakening, but he pushed on, getting closer to the bull-headed fiend.

Moving ever closer.

Forcing Kaz-Mowang to take his eyes off of Kyembe. His bloodied ears twitched, flaring nostrils blowing black tinged puffs of air.

Alex appraised him from up close. Hes waiting for me to teleport, the young wizard thought. He wants me to teleport, then he plans on blasting me where I appear. But, Ive got a surprise for him.

Tucking and rolling past another volley, Alex reached into his satchel.

Using the last of his staffs magic, he grabbed a piece ofwaybread from the bag, then cast invisibility on himself and muttered the incantation for Call Through Ice.

Pain shot through his side; the Marks interference rose, breaking his concentration for an instant when a bone spike scraped along his torso.

But, what hed planned to do was done.

The staff pulsed.

The Travellers power pulsed.

And the bread vanished in the same instant he did.

Aha! Kaz-Mowang grinned, feeling the Travellers power. Nice try, my new jester!

Convinced that Alex had teleported through the planes, the bull-headed fiend raised his trident, spun around and lashed his lightning at

a piece of bread that appeared behind him.

Wha? the surprised demon muttered.

And Alex appearedhed already been whispering the incantation for Planar Doorwayand his hand touched his enemys back. The Travellers power rose, pushing through The Marks interference, joining with his spell array and iron will.

Energy flooded out, meeting Kaz-Mowangs natural resistance to magic and ancient will of steel. For a terrible moment Alex found himself in a contest within a mind that might have been older than his entire kingdom.

His training, determination, and distaste for the monster clashed against the ageless willpower of a thing that had watched realms turn to dust. And his will was wanting. He could feel Kaz-Mowang beginning to shake off his magic, and Alex clenched his teeth, pouring more mana into the struggle.

Then Hannahs power was with him, pushing against Kaz-Mowangs with a vengeance that Alex could only describe as personal. With a torrent of energy like a bursting dam, it shattered both the demons will and his resistance to magic, flashing out to wrap around the massive form.

And then, wizard and demon vanished.

They tumbled through space between space, Alex felt Kaz-Mowangs power gathering. The young mans hair prickled on his scalp: lightning was coming.

Come on, Alexs mind screamed. Come on!

He appeared a breath before the demon, landing right beside the portal.

Now! he shouted, rocketing into the sky.

An instant later, Kaz-Mowang appeared where Alex had been. Golden lightning erupted all over the demons skin, as confusion marked his bloody face.

Waithow he murmured.

Then his world turned to flame.

Claygons three fire-beams struck his side, washing over him in a wave. Burning. Robbing the monster of sight.

He tried waving the golems flame away with his trident, but suddenly stiffened: realising he was between Claygon and Kyembe.

And as the fire rays lashed into him from one side

a deadly beam of hellfire streaked from the other.

Its crackle was hungry, striking the hulking demons flank, burrowing into his flesh. Pinned between Claygons fire magic and Kyembes hellfire, the arrogant greater demon could do nothing but scream, once.

Fire magic and hellfire wove together, roiling with a life of its own; demons around their master burst into flame. Stone beneath his feet melted, bubbling like lava, his trident wilted like a flower hit by the first frost, metal dripping like candle wax.

Even from his distance, high above, Alex felt like he was choking.

For an instant, his mind flashed back to the alehouse.

Watching it burn, struggling in Mr. Lus grip, desperately fighting to get to his parents.

But this was not the same fire.

This fire had reduced an enormous demona slaver and tormenter of mortals from across the planesto a column of ash. His army gaped as the ash blew away on the wind, leaving nothing of their master but hoofprints in the molten rock.

Thats right! Thundar roared, holding up a broken tiashiva beside a victorious Claygon. Your great master is dead! If you dont want any of this he gestured to the golem and Kyembe. then get the hells gone, before we get realnasty!

The demons looked around, unsure.

They briefly watched the cloud of ash that was once their invincible master drift away. Then they looked at their dead, lying in mounds around Thundar, Claygon and Kyembe. Lastly, their eyes fell on the dozens of summoned monsters and Ezeraks painted beasts hungrily watching them.

As they hesitated, the former king rose, his jaw clenching.

Someone cleared their throat.

All eyes turned to Kyembe, his ring still blazed, his face lit up. The Spirit Killer grinned, the light of barely restrained hellfire reflecting across his white teeth and crimson eyes.

Boo, was all he said.

It was more than enough.

The mania field flooded into the fiends minds, and they fled as one, screaming back into the depths of the maze.

And so passed Kaz-Mowang, greater demon, and one of the most powerful of Ezaliels many servants.

There would be a turf war over the ruins of Jaretha in the coming days.

A certain bull-headed demon would not be participating in it.

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