"HAHAHA, oh Edward, oh Edward. I see, well this makes things easier. Hahaha. Go prepare the basement. The end of the war is only a matter of time." The hulking figure of Linnaeus stood up; mana swerved at his presence.
Casting his gaze outside, a city populated by monsters of all kinds came into view. The capital city of Destria, Esalor. The forest elven had now become dark elves, corrupted by him. He had conquered the forest and its fairies, dryads and nymphs now subservient.
He casted his gaze to the oceans, he could feel it, something lay there and he wanted it, to take all and rule over the universe and what lays beyond. That was his reason for existence. "Another pest." He said with disdain. "In due time I will come for you as well pest, right after I clean up these ones." The massive golden doors closed shut; the throne hall silent no longer adorned by the shimmering rays of sunlight.
A hundred miles south. In the former kingdom of Melbourne, within fort Dasnus.
"Say Nylore Nox, what is the order from the supreme one?" Arthur Payne said dressed in black full body armor amour with red runic engravings, a dark green spear to his left. You couldn't tell by looking at him that 15 years ago he was but a lowly mercenary, a bottom feeder. He was among the first people to betray the mergard prime humans and join the legion of doom.
"Arthur, watch yourself." A chasm of voices exploded as the air reverberated at each syllable. The banshee and the human locked eyes, vying for dominance. "I have no time to play games with you. The supreme one has spoken. In 15 days, he will seal all spatial rifts preventing the human's use of summoning magic. When that happens, we will attack with full force however the whisperers must initiate chaos within the human domain. Arthur, you subjugate the kingdom of Ares and Island of Wales. Are we clear?" Nox asked, each of her ten mouths grinning.
"Have your men tell those piggies, it's time to their settle their debt." Nox said.
Runic letters manifested in the atmosphere they disappeared as a shadow vanished.
"Say Nox, aren't you getting ahead of yourself here, you know I am a commander myself so why not show a little bit of respect." Arthur's relaxed posture turned serious as he leaned forward staring intensely as Nox.
"You are but an ant among titans and you deserve no respect from me, traitor." Nox's ghostly figure departed the war room.
Gripping his spear, blood flowed on the shaft. Arthur stood up, he knew himself best, letting out a sigh he departed as well. He was by no means untalented, 15 years, it took him such a short time to reach the rank of commanders and so were the men beneath him, they were gold mistaken for trash.
In the Maldon thicket...
"BANG!" "BOOOM" The ground shook as a magic missile exploded on the dream paw chimera's back. It was flung a few meters slamming into trees, with rage it roared, 5 missiles followed. Craters were left as the chimera dodged and counterattacked with waves of wind slashes. It leaped forward, charging furiously towards the mysterious attacker. Earth turned to mush trapping its feet, fire balls like a canopy rained down.
A swing of its tail generated a wind current dispersing the fire balls, magic condensed in its mouth letting out a magic cannon towards the attacker. The mud became a sink hole as its legs descended into the ground. A sonic roar broke the descent, its stout muscles broke out. Its fur stood up, reinforcing itself a sword slash hit it directly. A gash appeared on its back; black blood dripped killing the leaves.
A fire lance met a clash of its paw, dodging the slashes on the left to its right, it was hit with more magic missiles. The chimera let out a whimper, a shadow blocked the sun rapidly descending on the chimera from above. The earth trapped its legs once more, another magic cannon fired at the attacker.
The great sword glistened as it slashed down on the chimera's head, "BANG" "SWIISHH" The wind ruffled at the impact. The black fur hardened resisting the sword but more fireballs hit its abdomen. Steading herself Rebecca slashed at its head again. Its reinforcement magic was running out, more wounds appeared until it was finally decapitated.
Rebecca looked over the monster's corpse towards Maxwell's body. She walked towards it, a male figure emerged from the bushes and trees dressed in mage's grey overhead robe. Two silver stripes on the wrists, he was a mage.
"You are seriously gonna be the death of me Rebecca, why did you attack the bloody thing?" Jason's exasperated voice sunk into the silent forest.
"The bastard couldn't shut up! No thanks to him our prey almost escaped. He had to pay." Rebecca said while wiping black blood from her blade. "You more than me, have a reason to attack after all the bastard was a chimera."
"Damned necromances, heretics." Jason said as he turned to Maxwell and chanted. "Soul magic, invisible shackles." A silence pursued as he said" Well, he is not one of them. Probably a mercenary who bit off more than he could chew. So, what do you wanna do with him?"
"Take him with us, we will drop him off in the village's church and continue hunting. A thousand gold per head, easy payday." Rebecca said after mulling it over.
The barely conscious fellow could hardly follow what was happening. The winds of change were still turbulent and relentless. His life or death and its impact on the worlds linked to mergard's fate unknown.
Two weeks went by and in a church's nursing bay Maxwell awoke, exhaustion him had hit him hard. In his half-awakened state, he could hear the sound of footsteps as they drew closer rushing to grab his dagger, supposedly not there he put up his guard.
"There is no need to fear, you are safe." A voice said softly, its tone calm and lush with life. The curtains parted and a nun walked in. Short auburn hair, brown eyebrows, and eyes much like her voice lush with life. The white robe had engravings, though he could not understand what they meant.
"Aahh, you don't have to worry about these they are guidance and blessings of the lord. My name is Lilian, I am a follower of the church of Minthes." She smiled seeing his focus on the engravings.
"You are safe sir, there is no need to worry." Maxwell took a minute to and understand and accept those words. His tears flowed down on his cheeks however for the first time they weren't tears of anguish, pain or resentment. He was genuinely happy to be alive. His heart shackles broke loose. He was alive.
His smile radiant. "What is your name Sir? If you don't mind that is." Lilian asked.
"Sir Wilton, Nathaniel Wilton." A fake name yes, but he couldn't tell anyone his real name. The fact that he was not jailed/decapitated means that he was not yet found by the empire and he couldn't risk capture.
"Sir Wilton, the adventures that rescued you have already left the village. They took your dagger as compensation for saving your life and have already paid for your healing." A momentary silence ensued.
"Don't mind my gazed self, I understand. Do you happen to know where the adventurer's guild is, I would like to at least leave a word of thanks." Maxwell said as he got out of the covers, dressed in brown linen pants and a short-sleeved caramel robe.
They had a short conversation as Maxwell exited the church. Lime pavement led into the road and into view, three paths shaped like the letter Y. Taking the path to the left he headed for the adventure's guild. Merchant stalls lined the roads, their jewellery and food accompanied by the haggling voices of the villagers. Few people walked about, with swords, magic staffs in hand.