₦airaland Forum

Dranoid:
I don't think nemphis came back, I'm guessing he still has enough power to control mibazzar, and when needed or if he is in close proximity to the godstone he can take his form or 'posses' mibazzar, I guess that's why mibazzar wanted the Arc priest title, he is closer to the godstone. So I guess ruel is another god or maybe the all father too that found a host. Because if the other gods could have started coming back I'm sure they would cos judging from what apollux told us about them I don't think they like the fact that the all father kept them away from their worshippers and then there will be another war and so on............. Look at that other god (I've forgotten his name) the one they need the crystal and scroll to free, if he could come back wouldn't he have done that? So I'm guessing ruel and mibazzar are just hosts

His name is Dali-ma'Siva (kinda hard to pronounce his name with all the accent ) and your guesses are very interesting. Well few answers to the mystery will be coming in the next updates later today most definitely. Hope u all enjoyed the last one.
Oh and let me add this... Your guess that there will be another war of of the gods( another PANTHEON WAR) is spot on, but it won't be in any way you expect.
Besides all these multiple events here and others not mentioned are all leading to that.
Trust me Arl, the all father will have his hands full... And his omnipotent power my just not be enough to resolve all the devastating pandemonium that is coming...

“Be silent mortal. For I am Nemphis, I do not forgive. I give no mercy, therefore thy faithfulness and period of diligent service cannot atone for thy single act of folly. Therefore thou shalt receive the recompense of thy failure. “
The god Nemphis reached out his mighty hand and plucked the high priest from the raging energy whirlwind he was caught tumbling in. The fist of Nemphis circled the screaming Arc priest and closed over him. To Achron, the feeling was like that of a fly caught in the sudden heat and fire from a burning forge. He simply disintegrated.
With that, the energy surrounding Nemphis blazed brighter and his height continued to increase again but stopped suddenly when a thought from the human part of his mind came into his divine consciousness. With the almost omniscient knowledge available to him for consideration, he accepted the thought as been correct. His size increase stopped and began to reduce. His power and the bright energy halo around him started to dim.
He opened his palm, which was empty and said. “I will give thee another chance my slave Achron, for I perceive that thou will be useful to me still. “ A tiny flash, in comparison to the massive palm, came on and suddenly Achron appeared again on it trembling. “Fail me not again mortal. “
The Arc priest prostrated before his gigantic deity as the giant hand put him on the floor , grateful that he was brought back alive again from death. “I will never fail again most mighty of all. You are worthy of all power and praise, fools are they who will not kneel before you . Humans and souls shall be burn and offered to you in continual sacrifice when the time of you kingdom will come. “
Nemphis was pleased with this and his body continued to reduce till it became one again the figure of Mibazar. All the blazing energy flowed back into the god stone jewel and it returned to its former appearance.

“My lord Nemphis. Greatest of the gods, mightiest of all who inhabits the blessed realm. Greatest among the hundreds of divine beings, mightier that ten thousands by ten thousands, thousands and thousands of mortals. All knees on this world will come to bow before you. Accept the humble adoration of an unworthy one of your slaves. “
The giant deity accepted the accolade of his worshipper, long has it been since he had received any form of adoration. Still the wrath of Nemphis blazed afresh.
“Thou hast failed me mortal. “ as Nemphis spoke those words, the chamber was struck by a mighty wind of pure energy, whipping everywhere with light lashes. Achron felt himself lifted up violently, his body rolling like a grain of sand caught in the violent arm of a tornado. “I blessed thee with power and might, made thee sit on the throne of power, so thou will rule and be the head of those who still faithfully worship me. Thou shouldest have heed to the examples laid down by those who led before thee. But ye have turned from the path and leadest my worshippers into certain ruin. For this I have judged thee and pronounced thee condemned. “
With these words, the energy buffeted him afresh, hitting him from so many angles too numerous to count. “My lord, I have erred, be merciful to an unworthy soul. Let my faithful years of service and sincerity of devotion atone for my one act of stupity. “ Achron wailed, his body felt as if it will be torn into thousands of pieces, the great magical powers that had made him strong and given him stability and stamina was like a drop of water before a raging ocean wave.

And there you have it guys the best kept secret of MEMOIRS OF BLOOD AND STEEL. I'm sure no one expected this... Well what do you all think?

As the size increased, so also the power surrounding it. The energy round the body was throwing off tremendous amount of powerful beams, brighter than the sun and creating a whirlpool of dazzling brightness, a corona of multi colored light of rainbow surrounding the head like a halo. Still the body continued to increase. Achron watch bewildered, his eyes was drawn to the face of the statue increasing person that used to be the dead Mibazar, something familiar about the forming face struck him as totally odd. When the head of the new person was almost to the top of the roof of the council chamber it seem to pause for a while, the blazing energy been thrown off by the being shook the whole tower to it very root. Achron staggered and fell several times, always getting up but his eyes was fixed on the face of the giant person. It has became as tall as the gigantic image of Nemphis standing behind the throne of power.
No, no this can’t happen. The Arc priest’s mind screamed at him as he looked once again the face of the giant that use to be Mibazar, then turned to face the statue of Nemphis, turned back to the giant again and still once more to the idol of Nemphis, his heart almost collapsed at the striking resemblance between what was once Mibazar and the image of Nemphis.
“No it’s not possible, Mibazar is…is…. Nemphis? “ his stammering lips bloated out without him knowing he was speaking openly.
“It is, thou fool. I’m Nemphis who took the human form of Mibazar. “ when the voice spoke, it sounded like a thousand thunderstorms hammering the Arc priest’s ear. The force of the words threw the priest off his feet and knocked him far away from where he was standing slamming him to a part of a still standing wall which crumble on him with the impact. “Bow before me, you filth. Bow before thy god in worship and adoration. “
Without a thought, Achron fell flat before the massive feet of Nemphis, his body trembling with fear , his mouth muttering incoherent words of worship his whirling mind can recall. His head pressed heavily on the floor by the sheer power of Nemphis will and the weight of the divine energy been displayed.

Achron was jilted suddenly from his reverie with the sudden brightness from the god stone. In all the millennia that the god stone has existed, it has never acted like this. His eyes simply went straight to the smoldering ash that was once Mibazar.
“What? “ was all the Arc priest could say as the spectacle before his eyes went beyond anything he had seen or can ever imagine. The strange combined colors of the strange light landed right where the ash pile is creating a twisting tunnel of light. With a violently spinning vortex. The ashes were carried within the vortex turning and twisting then coming together joining and taking a ghostly human form.
“That’s impossible… “Achron said his lips trembling and real fear began to take hold of him for the first time in years. The ghostly image suddenly took the solid form of Mibazar, the hight priest that had been disintegrated by the green death from Achron stood as alive as ever. But something was different this time. The body of the high priest began to increase in size and grow taller. The Arc priest watched in frightening fascination as the face and form of the high priest was changed into something unearthly beautiful and terrifying. The former body of Mibazar continued to increase till it got beyond the height of three tall men and still it went on. As the body increased and the face took on a different appearance, the light flowing from the god stone played over it generating a halo of blazing energy that dwarfed anything Achron or Mibazar had ever been able to conjure.

♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
Achron walked slowly through the steps of the dais on which the throne of power was rested, as he got to the throne, he collapsed in it. This was the first time he is wishing the stone polished throne was made a bit comfortable, as his tired body didn’t feel any rest despite sitting on the throne. He may not be willing to openly admit it, but his battle with Mibazar had really drained him. The foolish high priest has been as powerful as he suspected, even surpassing it. It was better that he had to die now if not he would have presented a much bigger threat if Achron had allowed him to go on.
The Arc priest’s weary eyes observed the council chamber, every part bears the scars from the recent battle, except his throne and the statue. Most pillars were broken down as stone golem he had created and Mibazar destroyed, walls and floors cracked open or torn up into pieces. The heavily made council table has been cleft into four parts, most fallen off and the twenty chairs surrounding it, he doubt if up to five had survived as they had all been knocked over, most shattered beyond recognition.
As he sat , going over the battle in his mind, the god stone over his head on the high back of the power throne pulse as the multiple colored light glowing from it wavered, then the changing colors shone at once giving out a rainbow hued kaleidoscope of shifting colors and patterns, pulsating, coalescing into a single spectrum of light that burst from the jewel.

Now guys get ready for the biggest surprise of this whole story... And that is... Well u just have to patiently wait and read through the next updates

Thrace fared better than his companions, he was already half way through a counter spell when the darkness hit. Though he felt the vertigo the darkness attack on the mind produces, still it wasn’t as bad as the other two. His innate magic gave him a measure of protection. Completing the spell, he uttered a single syllable, a flash of brilliant light that competes easily with the sun for brightness flew from around him and instantly dispelling the darkness and the floating light ball came back again.
“I’m sorry for that, the whole thing happened too fast. “ Thrace said as he ran to the others still suffering the after effects of the shadow attack. “Never expected that the darkness spell will still be in effect after all these centuries. “
Shortly as they recovered fully from the attack, a tiny chink appear over there heads in the mine shafts spilling out dust and fine grains of sand.
“Oh this is bad, we have to leave now. “ Thrace said suddenly. After a questioning look from Jarrael, he continued. “The last spell I used in countering the darkness may have unbalanced the mine, I’m afraid, this place may start to cave in anytime from now. We have to run. “
And run they did, their feet hitting the floor of the mines, raising thick dust which chocked the thin air of the place. Just then some distance behind them, they heard the loud sound of stones and sands breaking off the roof of the mine shafts and hitting the ground along with the tortured sounds of broken pillars, weakened due to the passage of time and caving under the heavy weight of loose stones and sand. As they continued to run, they noticed from the continued sounds of rock falls behind them, the cave ins seem to be continuing and chasing them from behind. All they could do was put in more speed to the move of their feet, going as fast as the undulating surface will let them.

“From the little I have been able to piece together, it was a shadow spell. “ Thrace replied his voice taking on the same characteristics with that of Jarrael. “Well it is a shapeless mass of blackness that suddenly attacks its victims, covering, snatching their lives from them and all moisture from the bodies. “
“So any possibility that the said defenses are no longer in effect for now ? “
“Hardly Jarrael. “ Thrace answered casually as he walked along carefully. “That spell was made centuries ago and may have weathered away over time. Besides since it achieved the goals of keeping people from accessing the mines, the priests of Nemphis may not have bothered to renew it. But don’t worry the spell is really no threat to a magic user since it is so easy to dispel. “
Thrace was proven wrong not long after as suddenly the temperature within the shafts plummeted and started to feel icy cold. Mist of cold steam flew out of Thrace mouth as he tried to call out a warning which came in too late. Just beyond the light edge provided by the floating sphere, was perpetual darkness. But just as the surroundings became cold, something darker than darkness seem to writhe and convulse, an inky blackness taking shape and forming an aphotic silhouette. With rapid abruptness, they were all covered in the inky blackness even the floating light sphere vanished amidst the rushing darkness, that assumed a life of its own immersing the three of them. All warmth was being drained from their flesh, the blood within their veins started to congeal and every orifice in their bodies was been penetrated by the darkness. It didn’t just attacked their bodies, their minds also suffered, been assaulted by images of their fears, filling them up with hopelessness of which the darkness spell was made up of. It was all the more made worse that their strength was also stolen, so they couldn’t scream, it was like a thousand torture on every side that the only relief that would have been possible, which is to cry out was also taken away.

Thrace climbed down quickly holding the footholds and the other two joining him. Soon they got to a part of the hole which joined to another that levels off vertically with an even surface. Most of the beams and pillars erected to hold the shafts surface having rotted away over the centuries. The heat in this part of the underground mine was thick with humidity on the earth. The dry sandstone walls had parts that looked like bricked surface, with crystalline appearance that suggest another type of possible mineral vein undiscovered yet. The smooth surfaces were wet with tiny drops of water. Somewhere close by under the arid surface should be an underground water body
The silence within the mine shafts would have been deafening if not for the reechoing sounds their steps was making with the floating ball of light offering them precious illumination.
“What is the nature of the defense that was put in place in this mine which took out the miners? “ Jarrael asked, his voice sounding hollow and reverberating as if from several lips, as his feet touch another set of skeletal remains and the brittle bones crunching to dust.

Several quakes which shook the tunnels they were running in yanked Jarrael away from his introspection. Dust, sands and tiny chips of stones fell from cracks that suddenly appeared at the top of the tunnels.
“Those are earthquakes, howbeit mild ones. “ Thrace said as he led them on. “Whatever it is, I strongly hope it stops soon, because the last part we will be taken to get out of these holes is through an old abandoned mine that this quake may cause to have a cave in. “
Just then they got to a sudden end to the tunnels in the form of a wide hole with a dark opening that glared like a black eye at them.
“This is one of the hole leading to the mine. “ Thrace pointed at the hole bringing the floating ball closer. It’s light revealed that the hole had footholds as much as the light can reveal. It also shows several bones of humans almost turning to dust due to being here for a long time. “The little I could garnered from the book is that a mine was started somewhere from a far distance from the black tower city to mine what was initially thought to be a rich vein for iron ore. But little iron was gotten to justify the mining venture. Those who owned the mine had then dug too deep and long and unknowingly had venture too close to the walls of black tower city. It didn’t matter that miners were deep under ground, the black tower city’s magical defenses had gotten to them and slayed all the miners involved. The mine had been abandoned since then. This is our was out of the black tower. “

Citizens of the city began to sense that something was wrong as the quakes woke them from their sleep. None dared step out of their homes because there is always curfew in the black tower city once the sky gets dark till it brightens again. Only priests, disciples and guards are allowed in the streets once it’s night. Still most too afraid to go back to sleep watched from their windows, eyes fixed on the bright displays over the temple tower.
For below the city in one of the underground tunnels, Jarrael and Gamba been led by Thrace navigated their ways through the myriad of criss crossing tunnels meeting at too many intersections for anyone to really keep track for. But Thrace led the others with the confidence and certainty of one who knows the way. Jarrael’s mind was numb and cold. The passing of Khen didn’t register as anything more than a dull ache easily relegated to the background of his mind. At the moment nothing mattered to him, the only thing that had rekindled the feeling of humanity in him was gone. Once again he has gone back to being a loner without a care in this world. His companions now no longer matter to him except as means for him to get out of this place. Still his single desire to vent his wrath on Tarikh burned brightly as ever before and on a lesser degree, Ruel will feel part of it as been indirectly responsible for the death of his sister.

♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠

Outside the temple tower, a considerable number of people have gathered despite the lateness of the hour due to the unusual events that seem to be happening this night. Those that had been the first to notice the anomaly, were the high priest. Despite their intense meditation and concentration on their most sacred duties during the initiation ceremony, the use of powerful spells had been strong enough to penetrate their consciousness. The continued use of the spells have also drawn the attention not of just ordinary priests but of senior disciples too. The initiation ceremony had to be put on hold as the magical power been use were strong enough to interrupted and disrupted the smooth order of the initiation process. The high priests, priests and disciples had ran out of the initiation hall to investigate what was throwing up such huge amount of power. The high priests were the first to discover that it was all coming from the temple tower. As they raced there been followed closely by the priests and disciples, they discovered a very potent shield is covering the tower. Every attempts made to force the shield apart with very potent magic and spells, had fail. Their efforts were stopped when they realized the nature of the shield covering the tower, that unless they know the specific sequence used in setting up the shield, it will be impossible to open. So they decided to stay back and watch preparing to confront what ever comes out of the tower when the shield finally runs its course and goes off. The high priests directed the priests and disciples to be strategically placed all around the tower to prevent anyone from escaping. They directed some other senior and ordinary disciples to join the guards in surrounding the very wall of the temple to prevent movements. As these arrangements were going, all stopped for a while to stare at a spectacle that was been displayed within the shield around the temple tower, dazzling flashes of multicolored light brightened the night sky in several bravura of rainbow lights. Mild quakes shook the grounds on which the very city of black tower was built.

Matrycx:
apollux man 3 gbosa 4 u, so sad meera and khen had to die bt dats what makes the story more interesting,
I hope this is the end of mibazzar, but one thing i like about him is that he will go to any length to get what he wants,
one question that i keep asking myself is that
WHO IS MIBAZZAR?

Lol, that is the most important question of this whole story.... And em the answer is already available. I think you all already know the answer... But well let me keep it a secret until the right time

Taking a little time to play a bit with the energy tendril coiling on his open palm, looking at the high priest to make sure he is paying attention. “One thing I came to discover about the life magic is that it is like a two edge sword, what can give life can also take life away. So on my own, I made what most practitioners of the green magic will call a corruption, a deviant I call the green death. “
With a slight turning of his hand he caused all the tiny stars floating around the emerald tendril to fuse, joining the tendril it resulted in a bright tiny explosion of green light. “You want to know what the green death is all about? Well it’s hard to explain, here let me show you. “
Achron threw the flashing green light at the still standing high priest. The green light blew up as it touched Mibazar then died down to a dull glow which began to suffuse him over his body in greenish hues. The high priest moved just then, twisting and hitting his body as if trying to douse a flame burning all over him. His mouth now worked, speaking words as if to create a spell. Whatever spell he seem to be trying to conjure appears to fail. Just then he screamed. It sounded like the helpless wail of a bound calf led unerringly to the slaughter.
The green hue all over the high priest started to break up his skin, disintegrating and turning it to ash. The muscles and flesh followed, been slowly ripped off from the bones. The scream was cut off then, as the flesh of the jaw and the tongue were pulled off too. The flesh also broke apart into tiny sand like particles. Only the bones were left still standing but that too started to crumble as if decaying at a very fast pace. Just then every part that had once been all that Mibazar was made up of was turned into ash within the green glow that covered him, then the ashes were thrown down in a pile on the broken floor.
“ A pity, such a waste of rare potential. “the Arc priest said after taking some time to observe the pile of ash for a while. “Will just have to get someone to sweep this and threw it into the dung heap. “

With a loud sigh of mocked sadness the Arc priest walked closer to the immobile high priest. “You were a worthy challenge, you deserve certain amount of accolade, but a little one. But be rest assured none will every remember you. I will wipe out every single achievement you have made in your career as a high priest here. I will make sure no one will remember you ever existed within the walls of the black tower. You will be a no-one. “
After laughing loudly for a while again his face now took on a serious look. “Just like you, I also kept a secret I intend to use against you when the time is ripe, which I think it is. This secret is what had kept me as an Arc priest continuously for fifty years unchallenged. I killed my last challenger with this secret. “
Opening his right palm, a green tendril of light seem to grow out of it like a budding flower, with tiny sparkles of brighter lights like tiny stars floating around it. The green light tendril went up after a certain height it started to coil down on itself. “This is a green magic, completely forbidden to us as Nemphis priests but that had never stopped me nor you from going into it. Well this is a type of magic generally called earth magic or life magic. We of the Nemphis order hated this particular spell because we believe it is a weak spell for those who are afraid to take power and rule. “

So saying, Achron brushed lightly on his newly recreated clothes. “Oh don’t just stand there, speak up and tell me you are impressed. At least give me that much. “
Mibazar’s face was a frozen image of shock as if carved on granite. His vocal chords seem paralyzed and no sound could come out of them. His limbs felt locked into place as if been hammered by nails into his body as his eyes began to watch the incredible display.
. “Did you honestly think what you just did now will be enough to kill me? If that was the case, I would have been removed from being an Arc priest long before now. “ Waving his hand at a seemingly ash pile, it immediately formed into Achron’s staff and flew into his open hand. “I suspected correctly that before you will decide to challenge me, you must have a secret plan you intend to use in killing me with a surprise. So I have to feign that weakness after the release of that raw energy barrage, so you will be pushed to make your move. And I was right, you fell totally for it.
“Do you really believe you’re my equal in stamina and endurance in a contest of raw clerical power? I will still be standing long after all your powers have been drained from you, leaving your flesh a dried husk. “

♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
Mibazar had taken several steps away from the smoldering corpse that was the Arc priest when he knew something was wrong. Turning back to look at the blackened body he had left on the floor gave him a wild shock. Not only had the body stopped burning, the charcoal body was now standing upright on its feet. The high priest mind screamed that this is impossible. Achron was dead, he was sure of it. Even if the dark energy piecing him hadn’t done the work, the poisonous red flame should have finished the Arc priest.
As Mibazar watched in awe, the blacken flesh began to have itself restored, the burnt skin was being replaced by flesh till the charred bones, eyes and flesh of the face was renewed and took on once again the appearance of life that had characterized it before now.
Achron laughed long and hard, his voice sounding hollow due to lots of open spaces in the chamber with broken wall as a result of the energy onslaught. “Do you think, my foolish underling, that you are the only one that has experimented on that accursed magic of the hated white hands society? “
Taking a little while to savor the look of surprise and disbelief on the face of the high priest as his office robes and vestments were recreated, he continued. “I too have dabbled into the magics that had been forbidden to those of our sect. The very principles of the healing magic you stole from the adepts of it and taught to your disciple Khaufir, is very familiar to me. As a matter of fact, I have built and improved on it. While your lackey became enslaved to the power of advance tissue mending spell, I became its master. “

“We should be out of this tunnel soon enough where I can put a permanent solution to this. “ Thrace said his breathing high as he ran.
Taking a look back, Khen saw that Gamba had lagged a bit behind in other to fight off the scorpions coming after them, but from the look of it he is about to be overwhelmed. With a quick dart, Khen ran to meet the Hokunian, his curved sword swinging and cutting a part around the giant negro. With well coordinated slashes and cuts, most of the scorpions around them were in pieces of sliced carapace spewing out foul smelling indigo blood.
“Let’s go, you run ahead, I will cover our backs . “ Khen told Gamba as he cut down a scorpion that just ran at them over the scattered pieces of others.
Getting out of the tunnel into a wider one, Thrace stopped and turned back to the place he just came out from. “I think this is a perfect place to stop this. “
Jarrael was already out of the tunnel, as the acolyte prepared his spells, Gamba came out too. “Where is Khen? “
“He is still back there fighting off the animals. “ Gamba said. “Master let me go back for him. “
As Gamba turned back to the entrance of the tunnel, he saw that just a few steps from it was covered by the dark bodies of the scorpions coming their way and further from that, Khen was in their mist fighting. “You all should go, don’t worry about me. “ The Kyaki screamed at his companions.
With heart heavy and eyes misty, a weighty load of guilt in his heart, Thrace completed the spell and waited till he was sure Khen can’t come out of the tunnel in time and the attacking scorpions were close to the mouth before uttering the magic words, a blast of bright lightning hit the tunnel’s month and the stones crumbled, caved in and covered it effectively burying the scorpions and one of their companion.

As they raced through the part the dying fires had created, the scorpions recovered, those that didn’t get destroyed by the fire chased after them. Gamba was the one behind the group , he stopped for a while, his two war axes on his hand, with quick slashes, two of the nearest scorpions dropped to the ground in different pieces. The others continued to run ahead and almost stopped when they noticed that more scorpions were rushing at them from ahead.
“Where are they coming from? “ Khen asked tersely.
“ I think there are holes ahead of us which over the years these animals had used to access parts under the tunnels for quick movement and hunting. “ Thrace said as he blasted two ahead of them with fire from his hands.
Jarrael was behind him, his scimitars cutting a deadly arcs round him, dropping any of the scorpions that get close to him in pieces.

“They are too packed together for us to effectively breakthrough without being harmed or killed either by their venomous stingers, pinchers or sheer size. “ Jarrael observed. “And we can’t head back, that will make us more vulnerable to attacks from behind. Thrace clear us a part. “
“I have the solution right here. “Thrace said as he prepared for a spell. “One thing common to most animals is their fear of fire. “
With his two hands glowing like ambers, he pointed at the mass of giant scorpions blocking their part and released a short stream of fire. The fire fell into the mist of the gathered scorpions, engulfing some of them and forcing the others to scatter in skittering feet.
“Go” yelled the acolyte as the fire started to die down leaving a clear part for them. He didn’t want to create a bigger fire so the air in the tunnels won’t be consumed leaving them with little or nothing to breathe.

A short while letter, most of the tiny scurrying sounds stopped, the tiny darts that have accompanied them most of the way seem to have vanished. In the silence of the tunnels, they heard a new sound like clicks, as if iron points grating on stone. Just then a dark image seem to appear before them still some distance away from the edge of the light made by the floating globe. With a little command the ball blazed a bit brighter which revealed the shadowy image in the dark interior. What the light revealed surprised the lookers.
The image was that of an arachnid, having black glisten carapace with long segmented body, each segment having an insect like legs of three joints ending with a sharp point. At its front are two large digits with bloated pinchers having serrated edges. Eight baleful eyes stared at the watchers, with four mandibles chattering as if in anticipation of a meal. Twin curved tails having large stings dripping dark liquid which is obviously venomous. The creature stood about three feet above the floor.
Those looking already formed a name for the creature they just saw, they knew it as a scorpion but much larger than any they have ever seen. This creature was easily more than the length of a full grown man from the tip of its stinger to the head.
Khen’s voice sounded eerily as the group braced to face the scorpion. “It is not alone, look beyond it. “
“Oh no, by the sacred scarlet hill. “ Thrace cursed with surprise as behind the huge scorpion is a dark squirming mass of shadowy shapes of similar creature, all with malevolence on their features. At least more than two score all packed tightly on the tunnel.

Thrace was pointing out different areas the other direction of tunnels lead to showing them a particular tunnel which is connected to the sewage system leading to a slowing moving stream far away from the city. Just them tiny scurrying steps sounded all around them, the light showing shadows of darting tiny rodents like animals running away from the sudden appearance of the light.
After a certain bend, Thrace had a sudden premonition of danger. “’ware every one I think we are about to meet some of the defenses of this place. “
Senses high and alert with sweaty hands grabbing weapons the group continued, taking slow careful steps. “Stop “ Khen said suddenly as he went ahead of Thrace to check a certain track on the ground. Due to the number of years the tunnels had existed, thin line of sands and dust have covered the stony surface of the floor. The Kyaki studied the strange tracks intensely but shook his head in the negative. “These are strange, nothing very familiar to what I have seen before but it’s definitely that of an animal, what type I can’t guess. “
“Alright, let’s move on and be more careful. “ Jarrael said, his scimitars already held by his hands he nodded for Thrace to lead on.

After much slow walking they got to a place with a circular iron grating blocking their way. “Well here is the end of the catacombs. Beyond this place, we will enter the tunnels that leads to the other underground access way underneath the city and its surrounding areas. “
Touching the grating lightly he spoke words and it opened inward. “We are fortunate that Khaufir’s boss removed the magical defense of this place if not, we wouldn’t have gotten this far. “ Putting the book back in his purse, he continued. “Beyond this place, there is an independent defense apart from the magical ones. The nature of the defense is not yet known to me, but I believe it will be something natural that your weapons can handle. So let’s go. “
Stepping out of the round grating, it turned and closed back locking itself as the last person stepped off. Beyond the grating is a wide tunnel in the shape of a long cylinder, dark smelly water and dirty poodles formed on the uneven floor of the tunnel with size of the length of height of three men. Their steps were making long reechoing sounds in the quiet place. Thrace led the way, after a while they got to a Junction that was a T shape. The acolyte led them through the left tunnel, the oppressive heat of the tunnels shrouding them all.

“These sarcophagi are coffins where the bodies of every single Arc priest and some notable high priests are laid to rest. It is actually a highly venerable place to the priesthood of Nemphis. “ Turning to face the others behind him , the acolyte continued with a smile. “By the law of the priesthood, we should be dead for even setting our foot in this place. “
Seeing the grim face of Jarrael, Thrace quickly turned back and faced forward the smile dropping from his face. “How come you knew so much about this place having not been here before. “ Khen asked as he continued moving.
Lifting the huge volume book gifted to him by Ruel, Thrace pointed at it without looking behind.
“You mean you gained all these knowledge from the few days you had this book with you? “ Khen asked again. “With my observations, it’s only on very few occasions you have paid full attention to that book. “
“As to that, you should know mages don’t read books like other people read. In reality, we actually absorb the knowledge from books. “ the acolyte replied patiently.
“Does that mean the moment you open a book, you are instantly filled with all information in it? “
“That’s not how it works, Khen. When you read a book of spell, each of the knowledge comes to you depending on how it is made to be received or when it is needed or…” Thrace scratched his head with a sign of irritation. “You know what, just forget about it. You won’t understand it anyway, leave the magicking to me. “

♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠

The floating globe of light dispel the darkness as Thrace stepped in first through the open door, Jarrael behind him been followed by Gamba and Khen. The air in the place first smelled rancid, stale and dry with thick dust in the unpleasant mix. Thrace spoke words in low tunes after which the air became more breathable and the smell, though still there was less poignant, just a dull touch at the back of the mind.
The door led into a place the floating globe revealed to appear like a place which would have been called a long passage but was more like a tunnel because the roof was so low that it was barely above their heads and have a conclave form like the inside of a sphere. Only a small walkway was allowed in the place that can just admit one person at a time while both side had raised platforms. The platforms went as far as the tunnel and their eyes could see. The platforms have things that at first glance looked like strangely carved boxes but with a better look, were revealed to be sarcophagi, made from what seem like black slabs of ceramics and images with intricate hieroglyphs of engraved in gold.

So what do u guys think about Mibazar winning the fight? I know some people didn't expect that. But with the way the fight went, do u think Mibazar won the fight correctly or he won because the writer wanted him to win?

His right had jerked unsteadily with the effort Mibazar used to move it towards his neck. He pushed aside the fold of the robe around there and reach for a tiny chain on his neck that the high collar of his robe prevented from been seen. The chain has a locket attached to it which contains a very potent magical liquid. He wished that liquid could heal him immediately and restore him to full strength. Unfortunately, healing draught don’t work on the priests of Nemphis, the clerical power that runs through the body of the priests negate the spells of life that the healing magic are made from. This liquid in the secret locket is to give him an energy burst for a short time, enough to build up spell that Achron in his weakened state will have no defense against. He felt his whole body been jolted like a bolt of lightning traveling through his being, his eyes blazed and purple energy ran through his body. Instantly he was on his feet and he saw the Arc still squirming on the floor trying to overcome the weariness that have weakened him.
Achron’s face turned from the lines of lethargy that sagged the flesh to one of surprise then pure dread. Mibazar stood on his feet and worked with quickness cognizant of the limited time the effects of this liquid will last. Concentrating on the powers building up inside him, he caused the purple aura around him to turn black. The black halo that surround him started to form into solid constructs of dark energy.
All that filled the high priest’s heart as he watched his lord in his weakened state, was disgust and anger, he didn’t see it worthy to say anything. With a mental will, the dark energy construct took the form of sharp long spikes, elongated and moved towards the trembling Arc priest. All he could say was “What? “ before the energy spikes punctured his body, cutting through the heart, lungs and his neck. As the dark energy spikes punctured Achron’s flesh, blood spurts poured out from everywhere that were punctured. As the Arc priest trashed on the floor in his pool of blood writhing in pains, Mibazar prepared another spell, his two hands blazed red as he raised them. Red flames flashed from his hands and poured on the Arc priest, covering the dying body and engulfing it in a reddish pyre.
Very unfortunate the Arc priest had to die this way, squiggling in shame, Mibazar thought sadly as he turned away from the burning body.

The barrage kept on till both combatants couldn’t continue to sustain the release of such amount of energy. Suddenly the energies winked out and both the Arc priest and high priest fell on the shattered paved floor. Both of them weakened by sheer exhaustion, stayed down for a while, lying prone with debilitating weakness holding sway on every of their joints and limbs.
Mibazar struggled through the fatigue wrapping all round his mind and body like the silky Web from a red tailed tree arachnid, knowing if there is the thinnest hope of him winning this conflict, he can only take that advantage now. He had deliberately goad Achron to this climax, so he will be forced to unleash raw magical power and he will be also have to respond. He knew that the direct use of such power will leave them both exhausted and depleted. This is the only chance he can really inflict a mortal wound on his opponent.

Mibazar also did his own arcane hand symbols and a nimbus of purple energy appeared round him. As the purple energy began to increase, it darkened and became a black colored one with bright purple flashes at its edges. Same as the Arc priest, Mibazar was lifted up from the ground to float midair as the dark nimbus formed around him as the purple radiance continued to blaze.
Achron stretch his two hands and a huge raw blast of green energy shot at the floating high priest in the halo of dark energy. Mibazar also sent an equal blast of dark energy at the Arc priest on an intercept part. Both energy met midway between the two fighters and exploded on contact. The explosion shook the very foundation of the tower, if not for the external shield surrounding the building, the tower would have been blasted to rubble. But the shield held the tower together. The sound from the explosion rumbled and cause a small size quake that shook most of the city of the black tower. As the two energies collided, instead of them cancelling each other out, they held on to each other in a sustained steady blaze, hitting and creating continuous explosions. The green blaze from the Arc priest and black purple energy from the high priest, hit on each other pushing on each other, been controlled by the will of their masters, pressing on each other to gain ground. From the point of impact of the two energies, arcs of destructive power flew around the chamber which disintegrated anything they came in contact with, both green and black, breaking down pillars, crumbling walls and shattering the polished marble floors. The onslaught of clashing energies were creating a deadly whirlpool of energy spinning too fast for the eyes to follow and destroying everything in their parts. Only the massive statue of Nemphis and the power throne seem immune to the devastation.

“Interesting. As I saw you seriously injured, I held back my wrath just to watch what you will do next. “ Achron stood looking down on the kneeling high priest. “I would have found this fascinating if I still had the scholarly interest and the inquisitive mind of my youth. Well this won’t be enough to help you. The little accursed spell of the white hands you just mimicked won’t be enough to save you. “
Mibazar didn’t allow any of what the Arc priest was saying to get to him. As soon as he felt himself sufficiently mended, he released a wide blast of lightning bolts. The bolts hit Achron at first pushing him back till he raised a shield that disperse the bolts as they struck around the walls and pillars still left standing.
“Good. Now that you are back on your feet, I suggest we throw away these childish trickery spells and confront each other with raw power, this will determine the one who is truly powerful. “ Achron clapped his hands together. With a complex hand movement and finger signs he spoke a word that caused a bright flash of emerald energy to start revolving round him blazing and generating heat. As the energy continued to build, Achron was lifted up from the floor and was standing in the air as the green globe of energy covered him.