Jeze, with Mikal''s help, etched glyphs along the dusty stone floors. She had created a wide Rune circle that was big enough to surround her team, and Mikal assisted with checking her work.
"These look good to me," Mikal stated.
"We give it a go?" Jeze asked.
"Sure, why not? What''s the worst that can happen?" Mikal responded.
Jeze nodded. "Okay, everyone step inside."
The Proven squeezed into the circle and were careful to avoid the etched Runes on the floor. Each of them wore tattered dust-covered rags that barely covered their large forms, but it was better than nothing, Jeze thought to herself.
"I will start the enchantment. You will see the air shimmer around you and some shadows but do not be alarmed. I am overlaying the Light and Darkness aspects," Jeze started.
Mikal interrupted, "Jeze, no one cares. Please complete the spell. We are running out of time."
Jeze scowled, and Dunar raised his hand.
"How long will the illusion last?" The Leader asked.
"I''m not sure. I will pour as much Will that I can spare. Maybe thirty minutes?" Jeze answered.
"Let''s hope that is enough time," Rolfe stated.
Helga added, "I''m sure it will be great, Jezie."
"Yes, it will be wonderful. Please get on with it," Mikal insisted.
Jeze tapped the wide Rune circle and then completed a series of Glyphs that required her entire body. She poured her Will into the enchantment, and when Jeze finished the final Glyph, she felt the energy snap into place. Energy and shadowy tendrils shimmered around each of their bodies, and for a moment, it blurred their vision.
"What''s happening?" Rolfe asked.
"Give it a moment," Jeze replied.
The blurring stopped and the shadows dripped away like water droplets. Everyone''s appearance changed. Their faces had leathery gaunt skin with hollow cheeks and coal black eyes.
"Incredible," Mikal said softly.
"Ya, Jezie! This is amazing!" Helga cheered.
Rolfe touched his cheeks. "I can still feel my face."
"Because it is a veil, it''s not real," Jeze explained.
"Very good work!" Mikal observed.
Jeze fidgeted and smiled. Compliments from Mikal were still a surprise for her.
Dunar said, "The illusion is good, but it is not enough. We need to act our parts. Remember, we are undead. Rolfe and Helga, I need you two to act more like Mikal."
Mikal looked up and asked, "What''s that supposed to mean?"
"It means you are dull, Micky," Helga chided the Healer.
"No, I''m not," Mikal muttered.
Jeze placed her hand on the lever that would open the doors. "Are we ready?" She asked.
Dunar took a deep breath and answered, "Yes, team, keep your weapons ready."
The Proven held their weapons in their hands and moved to stand by the large double steel doors. Jeze pulled the lever, and the chamber rumbled as the giant doors clicked open.
Jeze joined the others and said, "Let''s hope this works."
Dunar pushed the doors open, and the Proven exited the mausoleum of King Archerbold the Defiant. They could see the enormous glowing pillar in the distance. Its pale light bathed their surroundings and reminded Jeze of the glow from a full moon. Dozens of undead glanced up, and the Proven tensed, their grips tightening around their weapons.
"Stay steady and walk as if we are one of them," Dunar quietly ordered.
Rolfe dragged his foot and moaned.
"Don''t overdo it!" Mikal snapped.
"Ya, just act normal," Helga stated.
"That was what I was trying to do!" Rolfe said through gritted teeth.
"Silence!" Dunar scolded.
The undead shuffled and moved around them. Some undead eyes lingered longer on them and Jeze worried that they would shriek like last time to alert the entire necropolis that the living was among them. But, nothing happened.
"Move along the path," Dunar ordered.
The Proven traveled along the dirt and ash covered trail they walked on earlier. To their sides were large gravestones and sarcophagi with an occasional massive mausoleum like the one they just exited. Jeze''s sharp eyes saw a shadowy form that darted in between the tombs.
"Don''t look back, but I think we are being followed," Jeze whispered.
Rolfe and Helga immediately glanced back. Mikal rubbed his face.
"Is it the Wendigo?" Dunar whispered.
"I think so," Jeze replied.
Dunar remained looking ahead and replied, "Keep an eye on it. Alert us if it makes a move. In the meantime, we keep going forward."
"Should we just fight it now?" Rolfe asked.
Dunar shook his head. "This is not a tactically sound location. We will be surrounded if we draw attention to ourselves. Be patient, Rolfe. We will find the right moment."
The giant Protector nodded, but Jeze could see that he was still tense. Ahead of them was a large group of shambling zombies, about a dozen or so.
"What do we do?" Mikal asked.
Dunar''s gray eyes studied the situation, and he replied, "Hold steady."
They walked and neared the approaching mob. To Jeze, the zombies eyed them with suspicion, and she grew nervous. She noticed movement from the sides.
"We are about to be surrounded," Jeze cautioned.
Dunar ordered the Proven to halt. Helga and Rolfe gripped their weapons and looked nervously behind them for any signs of the Wendigo. A half dozen wiry shapes attacked the group of zombies ahead of them. There was a fierce fight and the zombies were eventually ripped apart by the newcomers.
"Ghouls," Dunar observed.
The victorious group of undead had pointed ears, thicker frames, and sharp fangs. One of the Ghouls hissed at them with a long worm-like tongue that flashed out of its opened mouth.
"We claim thisss feassst," it said in a guttural voice.
Dunar snarled at the Ghoul. "Keep your pathetic feast, but do not cross us, or we will destroy you and grind your bones to dust."
The Ghouls hissed and growled at the Proven but bowed their heads, retreated, and dragged the mutilated zombies with them. Jeze risked a glance back and saw that the Wendigo continued to stalk them. She whispered this to Dunar. The Leader nodded but kept his gaze locked on the Ghouls.
"What should we do?" Rolfe asked. His voice was higher pitched than usual.
Jeze knew that the large Protector was worried that he could not withstand the Wendigo''s howl. Dunar jutted his chin ahead.
"We keep moving," the Leader answered.
The next twenty minutes was pure anxiety for the Proven as they walked through a seemingly endless cemetery filled with numerous undead. All around them were zombies, ghouls and an occasional spectre would fly through. Over time the Proven discovered less and less undead. Jeze was not sure what was more unnerving. Being surrounded by hordes of monsters, or the eerie silence of being alone. But they were not alone. The Wendigo continued to stalk them.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Why is it not attacking us?" Helga asked through gritted teeth. It was her way of speaking silently.
"I believe it does not know whether we are dead or not," Mikal answered.
''Why does that matter?" Rolfe asked.
"If you recall, Archerbold said that the Wendigo were cannibals. Perhaps it is only interested in consuming the flesh of the living," Mikal suggested.
"Be prepared," Dunar ordered.
To make matters worse, Jeze''s illusion spell flickered before it fell away.
"Dunar, what do we do?" Rolfe asked.
Without looking over his shoulder, the Leader asked Jeze, "Where is the Wendigo now?"
Also, without looking back, Jeze answered, "Behind us to the right. It is hiding behind the onyx tombstone."
Dunar scanned their surroundings. There were very few zombies around, which unnerved the Leader, but if there was ever a time to face the Wendigo. This was it.
Dunar gripped his shield and sword. "Proven, on my command. Let''s destroy the Wendigo,"
"About time," Rolfe growled.
"Ya!" Helga agreed.
Mikal remained silent. Jeze risked a peek and spotted the Wendigo moving closer.
"It''s moving toward us," she whispered.
Dunar nodded and roared, "For glory!"
The Proven spun as one and faced the horrid, tall, and gaunt monster that was covered in jagged shadows. The Wendigo''s jaw dropped down to its chest as it unleashed an ear-shattering howl. Jeze felt fear grip her heart like an ice-covered hand. The Wendigo leaped from tombstone to tombstone toward them. Helga and Rolfe visibly shook with fear, but they did not flee. They forced their trembling bodies and rushed forward without confidence. The monster easily dodged their clumsy attacks and countered with vicious claws. Helga fell back with a jagged gash along her cheeks. Rolfe jabbed his spear and retreated. His body shook with fear. Mikal Summoned mist and Shaped it to flash freeze, but the Wendigo hopped away with incredible speed.
"Jeze, use your Fire magic!" Dunar ordered as he stood in between the Wendigo and his team.
The Scout pulled out her Fire aspect Channeling tool and Summoned flames. Jeze formed the glyphs in the air in order to Shape the aspect, but the fire dissipated. She failed the spell! Fear crept through her body like growing weeds. She tried again, but this time, she couldn''t even Summon the flames. Her hands shook with fear.
"Jeze, what are you doing?" Mikal asked.
Sweat beaded on the Healer''s face as he strained his Will to create Walls of ice to keep the fast-moving Wendigo at bay. Dunar engaged whenever the creature came close. The two exchanged blows, but the undead was much faster. Before the Wendigo could overpower Dunar, Mikal would intervene with his ice spell.
"I can''t work the Runes!" Jeze cried.
"What?" Mikal shot back.
"My hands are shaking. I," Jeze stammered, "I can''t shape the Runes correctly."
Mikal slapped her hard across the face. At first, Jeze was shocked. Then rage built up in her chest, and her face snarled.
"What the hell was that for?" She demanded and balled her hands into fists.
"To get you angry! Now burn this foul monster!" Mikal exclaimed.
Jeze scowled, but she was able to Summon, Shape, and Control the Fire aspect and launched darts of flame at the fast-moving Wendigo. The shadowy undead bounced around the tombstones and avoided Jeze''s barrage of fire darts. The Wendigo lunged at her with its claws extended, but they were met with Dunar''s shield. The Leader stabbed the monster and followed up with a sword slash that missed. The quick Wendigo hopped away to hide among the many graves and above-ground coffins.
"It''s too fast!" Rolfe cried.
"Ya, how can we defeat it?" Helga asked.
The two fought the fear effect as best they could, but in their hearts, they wanted to flee. Jeze and Mikal continued to launch magic attacks at the Wendigo. The undead monster weaved, bounced, and dodged them as it moved closer to the Proven.
"We defeat it because we are the Proven! We ran with the Dire Wolves through the deep snow. Remember who you are!" Dunar roared.
"Ya! We will crush its bones to dust!" Helga shouted back. She pushed her fear back and moved to stand beside the Leader.
Rolfe trembled and forced his fear aside as he chanted, "For glory!"
When the Wendigo lunged at Jeze and Mikal, the others rushed forward to surround it. They no longer fought with fear, but instead, they fought with confidence. This time, when the Wendigo bounced away, it was missing an arm. As it magically healed itself, Jeze struck it three times with fire darts. The Wendigo stumbled and scrambled away.
"After it!" Rolfe cried.
"Wait," Dunar cautioned, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Rolfe and Helga needed to prove to themselves that they could conquer their fears. That they were more than just strong warriors. That they also possessed a solid Will. They chased the Wendigo as it scrambled through the numerous sarcophagi and tall gravestones.
“Be alert,” Dunar said to Mikal and Jeze.
The three cautiously followed their colleagues. The Wendigo was hurt, and Jeze''s fire attacks hampered its ability to heal. Archerbold did not lie about fire being the monster''s weakness, Jeze reflected. But, she also recognized Dunar''s concern. The graveyard was empty as they traveled deeper into the necropolis and chased the dying Wendigo. Jeze struck it again in its back, and the undead fell to the floor and tried to crawl away toward an enormous tombstone. The stone rumbled and rose up. It was not a tombstone! Jeze thought in horror.
“Rolfe, Helga! Fall back!” Dunar cried.
The two large warriors paused and glanced up at the behemoth that rose from the dirt before them. Even the Wendigo tried to flee but was quickly snatched up by a massive clawed hand. The Proven watched as the giant monster opened up an enormous tooth-ridden maw and ate the hapless Wendigo.
"Is that a Corpse Eater?" Jeze wondered.
Rolfe and Helga hurried back, and the Proven heard the sounds of the Wendigo howling mixed in with the crunching of its bones as the giant monster chewed on it.
"Looks like it," Mikal shuddered and added, "That is a horrible way to go."
The Corpse Eater stood on two tree trunk-sized legs, was nearly three meters in height, and was almost as wide. Its body was a mixture of dirt, tombstones, metal, and pulsating flesh. Its enormous head, which was bigger than Rolfe''s torso, was bald and misshapen in shape with rotted flesh and two different-sized eyes. One eye was large and round, and the other was small and squinty.
The Corpse Eater, surprisingly fast, reached for them with four gnarled arms of stone, flesh, and steel. The Proven barely dodged the clawed hands as they crashed against the earth and gravestones. The striking limbs created craters in the ground and shattered grave stones as if they were made out of sand. The Corpse Eater was incredibly strong! Jeze reflected with horror.
"Fall back!" Dunar cried.
The team retreated, and the monster chased after them with uncanny speed that belied its enormous size. The Corpse Eater lashed out with its four powerful limbs, and the Proven dodged and dove out of the way. The limbs smashed through stone and ripped up the earth. The very few undead that were around were quickly snatched up and eaten.
This demonstrated to the Proven their horrible fate if they were not careful. Jeze and Mikal attempted to slow the monster down and created walls of ice and stone, but the Corpse Eater smashed through them as if they were made out of paper. The horrible creature snatched up several more wandering undead in three of its hands, and the fourth grabbed Rolfe!
"Put me down!" The Protector roared, but even with his great strength, he was helplessly dragged closer toward the massive chomping maw as it tore apart the zombies with its gnashing teeth.
Jeze launched Boulders that shattered against the monster, but they appeared to have little to no effect as the Corpse Eater consumed the zombies it held one by one. Rolfe was next to be eaten. Helga charged and leaped into the air. The warrior maiden activated the fire enchantments on her axe and with a powerful chop she removed the creature''s arm and freed Rolfe. The Corpse Eater didn''t even howl in pain and instead a new limb sprung out from the monster''s flesh and dirt torso.
"How do we kill this thing?" Rolfe cried.
The Protector and Helga dove out of the way as the creature attempted to snatch them up. But they were not fast enough, and each was grabbed in the creature''s powerful hands. They fought and squirmed, but it was of no use. The Corpse Eater was too strong. Dunar charged the monster. A clawed hand lashed out at him, and Dunar blocked it with his shield. The hand yanked the shield away, but Dunar kept his charge to hack at its arms and legs with his axe. Jeze and Mikal struck the Corpse Eater with giant boulders made out of rock and spears made out of ice. Their attacks managed to slow the Corpse Eater, but it was only a matter of moments before Rolfe and Helga were torn to shreds by the creature''s gnashing teeth.
Dunar barked orders, "Jeze, target the knees!"
She complied and launched Boulders that shattered against the bone and metal studded knees.
"Mikal, start the Vitality Spring!" Dunar shouted.
The Healer tapped his channeling tools and performed the full body Glyphs for the powerful buff spell. The Corpse Eater pulled the Protector toward its mouth.
"Rolfe, use your spear!" Dunar cried as he dodged giant clawed hands.
The Corpse Eater smashed the ground where Dunar was standing. The Leader shattered the monster''s wrist with a powerful chop from his axe and he severed the fingers with a slash of his sword. Dunar rapidly retreated as the creature reached for him with clawing hands.
"For glory!" Rolfe roared as he jammed his spear into the creature''s opened mouth and prevented it from snapping shut.
The Corpse Eater bit down harder and caused the Helldrake spear to bury itself deeper into its misshapen head.
"Helga, go for its eyes!"
The warrior maiden was empowered by Mikal''s golden Vitality Spring. Helga screamed as she forced herself free from the monster''s powerful grip. She ran up its arm, ducked another grasping hand, and jumped to the Corpse Eater''s chest, where she scrambled up to stand on its shoulder.
"Die!" Helga cried as she slammed her axe and exploded the Corpse Eater''s large round eye.
The monster tossed Rolfe to the side, and the Protector crashed hard against a tall obelisk, where he slid to the ground in a crumpled heap. Mikal''s Vitality spring went to work and started to mend his broken body, but it would be a moment more before Rolfe would be able to rejoin the fight. Helga continued to hack with wild fury with her two-handed Dane axe. She buried her weapon deeper and deeper into the Corpse Eater''s skull. She was covered in the splattering of black ichor, and the monster grew weaker with each devastating blow. Its hands feebly tried to swat her away, but Helga shrugged off its attempts and continued her vicious assault.
Jeze poured all of her Will into her next spell and launched the largest Boulder she had ever Shaped. The enormous rock shattered the Corpse Eater''s knee and fell forward. Helga scrambled to its back as the behemoth fell on its face. She stood on its shoulders, raised her axe high into the air, and slammed it down hard into the base of the Corpse Eater''s skull. The monster twitched one final time before going still.
"For glory!" Helga shouted into the sky with her weapon raised.
"Hurrah!" The Proven, including Rolfe, cheered back.
Their celebration was cut short when they heard loud clapping. The Proven gripped and quickly regrouped into a battle formation. Large figures emerged from the surrounding gravestones.
"Very good work!" A voice boomed.
Dunar''s face broke out into a wild smile. "Berserker Orn!" He cried.
The Adept-ranked Adventurer appeared with Carl Jorgenson, who stood beside him along with three other Carls.
"You could have done better," one of the Carls joked.
Jeze saw that it was the stocky woman with braided hair. She always teased them, but the gleam in her eyes showed that the Carl was proud.
"Don''t get too comfortable. We have ten more of these blasted creatures to kill," Orn stated and grinned widely, "It will be lots of fun!"