Post by ganondorfchampin on Feb 29, 2012 22:35:30 GMT
Adremulek stared into his shot of whiskey. The demigod had been on pursuing his archenemy, Gabon, for nearly a year now, and now he needed a good long drink. The deities had been enemies for eons, and neither really knew exactly how the enmity started, all they knew now was that the other had piled several lifetimes of grave offences against them and they both wanted the other one destroyed. Adremulek stirred the fiery brew with one finger for a moment, then downed it in a second. As he finished of his drink he looked around the bar and noticed something wasn’t quite right about one of his fellow drinkers. He focused his gaze on the man for a second, not quite sure what what was wrong, then he realized what was amiss.
“I see you Gabon, stand up and fight like a man.”
The man then spun around and glared back at Adremulek. Sure enough the figure was none other than Gabon, the demonic visage was unmistakable. Gabon slowly rose up, one of his hands morphing into the blade of a claymore, then he spoke.
“So Adremulek, we meet again. I thought I had finished you off with our last battle. No worries, I’ll enjoy making my vengeance on your pathetic self. You shall pay for the day you killed my wife and my dog.”
“Did you honestly think it would that easy to stop the great and powerful Adremulek? Your foul mongrel had it coming to him, and so did the whore. After all you did steal the grail from me first, as well as burnt down my village. Now it is time for you to finally be brought to justice for what you have done.”
Adremlulek then morphed one of his arms into a blade to match Gabon’s and the two charged at each other. Bitterly the two locked swords, and soon they fenced in the middle of the bar, fellow drinker’s looking in awe. Gabon feinted, and as Adremulek made a parry Gabon struck at his foe. Adremulek dodged, but the blade grazed his cheek. Adremulek grimaced from the pain, and now he was furious, rushing at Gabon with renewed theory. Gabon did his best to fend off the onslaught, then darted to the side, away from Adremulek. He then outstretched his hand, causing a series of bottles and glasses to shatter. He then brought the shards in front of him and shot them towards his enemy. Adremulek telekineticly lifted up a table to shield him from the glass, which became embedded into the table.
The two then decided to crank up their battle a notch, and soon they were flinging fire and lightning at each other. A few drunkards and a bartender was caught in the crossfire and immediately incinerated, but neither deity took notice. They were too busy trying to destroy each other that they cared for nothing else. Eventually Adremulek caught Gabon with a lightning blast as his Nemesis was trying to dodge a fireball. The blow sent Gabon flying across the room and hit the ground.
Adremulek approached the body and prodded it with his foot. Gabon didn’t move, but Adremulek felt that he was still alive. The demigod lifted Gabon up by the scruff of his neck and turned him around. In an instant Gabon sent a blast of fire into his captor’s chest, causing him to release his grip and knocking him across the ground. Gabon then turned into a shadow and slunk away.
“Come back, you coward!”
But it was too late. Gabon was already gone. Adremulek cursed and walked out of the bar, ignoring the wreckage he left in his wake. Once again Adremulek was on the pursuit of Gabon.
***
Adremulek had been transversing the desert for months now. Every time he thought he caught up with Gabon his adversary seemed to slip away. Adremulek had been running the entire time, and only now did he feel the need to stop and catch his breath. As Adremulek placed his hands on his knees for a second, and panted he saw something just in the distance. He felt the presence of a great being over there, a feeling he only felt in presence of Gabon and other demigods. Adremulek stealthy snuck up upon being from behind, taking on the form of a shadow as he dwelt within the darkness. When he came close enough to the figure to see that it was not Gabon, he revealed himself.
“I am the great and powerful Adremulek. I have come seeking the being known as Gabon. Do you know of his whereabouts?”
The figure was wearing an ebony mask and a cotton robe. As Adremulek spoke it rose up. After it stretched itself to its full height, which was over ten feet, the figure spoke in raspy voice.
“Adremulek.....and Gabon. I have heard of you two. More so, I’ve heard the grudge between you and the devastation that has been caused because of it. Yes, I do know where Gabon is, as he passed by here not to long ago. Before I tell you that may you answer this: how many more people must die because of this petty struggle? When will this end, Adremulek?”
“I will not let this end until Gabon is dead. He has hurt my honor far to greatly to be left alive. If you give me the location of the fiend I may finish him off sooner and this may end faster.”
“Honor, is that what this is about? Do you know how many conflicts could have been avoided if a man just swallowed up his pride? If this is really what you want then I will tell you what you desire. My name is Jarin, and I’m the sage of this desert. If you serve for me for seven years, and at the end of those seven years you still have the desire to seek after Gabon I will tell you of his whereabouts, as I can see all things.”
Adremulek thought for a moment, pondering whether it would be in his best interest to continue to search for Gabon on his own or accept this mans offer and wait seven years to learn the truth.
“Adremulek, if you agree to work for me you will be able to find me here again anytime in the future and never again will you loose sight of what you seek after.”
With that he made his mind up. Seven years would be but an instant if it meant the chance to destroy Gabon once and for all.
***
And so Adremulek served Jarin for seven years. The sage made Adremulek go down to the earth, working with the creatures, growing the plants, aiding nomads and other travelers through the desert. Jarin was trying to get Adremulek to feel for the inhabitants of the desert, look beyond his own struggle and see what his grudge was destroying, but Adremulek had hardened his heart too much to feel anything except for his hate for Gabon during all those years. Everyday he only got through by thinking about how sweet revenge would finally be. Finally the day came where he had reached the final day of his servitude.
“So Adrekulek, you have now served for me for seven years and I most uphold my promise. Now I must ask you, do you still want this?”
“I’ve been diligently serving you for seven years. Of course I still want what I came after, why else would I have kept serving you?”
Jarin was saddened by this, but there was nothing he could do now.
“Very well, I thought I could change your heart, but I was wrong. Gabon went to the North Pole, and he has been there for the last four years.”
Adremulek turned and was about to sprint off to the north when Jarin spoke.
“Wait! Before you leave I have one last thing for you.”
He then with drew a spherical metal object from his robes and handed it to Adremulek.
“When the time comes that you must end this the fate of the world will rest on how you use this. Only through this may the battle end.”
Adremulek took the object and put into a pocket in his own robes. He then head off the the north, awaiting his destiny.
***
For three years Adremulek ventured north, across deserts, plains, forests, and frozen seas. Even as the soles of his feet wore away and the ice bit into his flesh he felt nothing, as he was to set on getting revenge to feel pain. Pain was a thing of the moment, destroying Gabon would make it all worth it.
Eventually Adremulek made it to the North Pole. To his surprise he found that there was a giant ice palace in front of him. Adremulek cursed Gabon’s name and his cowardice. He then walked around the fortress, analysing its weak points, then be started pacing, developing a plan of attack. Finally he had his plan: he was just going to force his way in.
Adremulek turned himself into a dragon and blasted fire at the wall, melting it. He had to be careful to make sure the structure didn’t collapse on him. As he entered the ice palace he was surprised by how quiet it was inside. He found himself in a large, empty chamber. He searched the room for a moment, then decided to bust down a wall. As he charged through it the ice shattered like glass, but his scaly hide protected him. He found himself in a corridor that was as empty as the room. As he explored the corridor it lead to another hall way, and found himself in a labyrinth.
After wandering in the maze for a while he felt Gabon’s presence, and like a compass he used it to lead him to the center. There he found Gabon, sitting on a throne of ice.
“I’ve been waiting here for seven years, Adremulek. What took you so long? You are really starting to disappoint me. Let’s end this.”
As Adremulek pounced on Gabon he drew a sword made ice to protect himself. Adremulek changed course at the last moment to prevent him from being skewered, and Gabon took advantage of the the moment to stab Adremulek in the flank. The blow was not normal, as it froze he leg with a magic ice that crept up his limb and made it impossible for him to move effectively. Gabon jumped back and smiled at what he had done.
“Really, I expected better of if you. Is this really all it took to defeat the ‘great and powerful’ Adremulek?”
Adremulek was furious at this point and attempted to fry Gabon with a blast of fire, but Gabon dodged it and the flames hit the back of the room, starting to melt it.
“Well, I would like to stay with you for a while, but it seems that my home is loosing its support and I really need to go. Tell my dog and my wife that I miss them once your in Hell.”
Gabon jumped up, knocked a hole through the ceiling, and flew away in the form of the dove. The castles promptly lost support and collapsed on top of Adremulek.
***
Adremulek gasped for air and climbed out of the Artic sea and back onto the ice. After he was forced under the surface when the ice broke he was stuck there for four days. Adremulek was now enraged with every thread of his being, even more so than before. Gabon had humiliated him for the last time. Next time he would show no mercy, he was going to tear Gabon to pieces.
But that would have to wait. In order to get revenge on Gabon he needed to find him and to do that he had to return to Jarin.
***
Once again Adremulek made the painful trek between the North Pole and the sacred grounds of Jarin. This time it only took him two years, for now his hate for Gabon was so intense that it hurt him, and he turned that pain into rage which drove him on. The journey to Jarin felt like only a day to the enraged demigod.
At last made it back to the sacred grounds. He looked everywhere for Jarin, but couldn’t find him. Adremulek lost his patience and shouted into the desert.
“JARIN, WHERE ARE YOU! I NEED YOU NOW.”
“Have patience. Its required if you wish to accomplish your hearts desires.”
Adremulek turned around and saw the masked figure of Jarin behind him. He cursed himself for not picking up on his aura in his rage.
“Once again I am in need of your assistance in finding Gabon.”
“Yes, I see where he is right now. He is very close.”
Adremulek was shaking with anticipation.
“Where is he?”
“I can’t tell you, but I can show you.”
Jarin motioned for Adremulek to follow him and he did. Jarin lead Adremulek across the barren desert rock for four days then they made it to a cave in the wall of canyon. Jarin entered the cave and Adremulek was right behind him behind. Soon they were deep into the cavern, into pitch blackness. Adremulek illuminated the cavern, and he then saw that Jarin was no longer in front of him. He heard a the sound of something clattering behind him and he turned around.
What appeared to have have been Jarin threw off his mask and robe and proved to be none other than Gabon, changing into a wolf and pouncing onto Adremulek. Adremulek manged to dodge just in time and turned into a bear, grabbing onto the wolf and attempting to tear it apart. Gabon responded by taking the form of a honey badger, biting the bear, and wiggling out of its claws. Adremulek granted in pain and then retreated as the badger swarmed over him. He howled as Gabon bit into his ear, and after he could take no more he realized what could beat a honey badger. He then took the form of a golden eagle, grabbing the badger in his talons, carrying him up and preparing to snap his neck with his beak.
Gabon was cunning, and he turned into a big rock, pulling Adremulek to the ground. The moment Adremulek released him he took on the form of a tiger and and bit into the eagle. Adremulek screeched, turned into a mouse, fell out of the tiger’s mouth and scurried away. For once it was Adremulek who was fleeing from the fight. After Adremulek cowwerd behind a rock and licked his wounds he turned back into his true form. Adremulek could not bear the shame, the shame of fleeing from a battle, and he decided that with this much shame it couldn’t get much worse. Adremulek was going to get help, but he would preserve his honor by dealing the final blow himself.
Help. Asking someone to assist him was going to be shameful, but nothing could be as shameful as letting Gabon when. Adremulek slowly limped towards the nearest village, dreading what he had to do next.
***
“Hearken unto me, people of Darren! I have came to give you a grave message. There is witch preying on us from within the desert. He is the one who placed the curse on the child which I cleansed. He wants to steal our wives and children, to turn us away from our god and to the devil. This man of darkness even tried to kill a holy man such as myself. Look upon the wounds that the fiend has inflicted me.”
Adremulek flashed the injuries that he got from his most recent battle with Gabon. The twisted scars were clear, and the people winced at the sight. He had entranced the people of Darren earlier by healing a sick boy, and then asked for an audience with the people, claiming he was a powerful prophet with a warning for the people.
“Yes, our enemy is strong, and be you faith and work together we can overcome him. The witch has immense power, but he is still just a mortal man, just one who sold his soul to the devil. By the power of our God we may vanquish him and be free. We can do this.”
He then conjured up an apparition that showed Gabon. The people were absolutely mesmerized now, and they began to murmur and their hearts were stirred against Gabon. Adremulk’s plan was working. Gabon wasn’t the only one who could use tricks to in his battles.
***
Adremulek had a group of followers with him now. Now they had but a single goal in mind: to kill Gabon so that they may sleep in peace. Together they pledged their allegiance to Adremulek and they now held a banner devoted to their new lord. They were only wondering through the desert for a few days when they encountered a party was much like there own. Adremulek was perplexed, but then he noticed who there leader was. Gabon was now leading just about the same number of followers as Adremulek. The cunning coward had the same idea as Adremulek, and there was only one way this could end.
“My people, there stands the witch and his followers. The devil may be strong and a great deceiver, but we are stronger than he is as we have the truth on our side. Remember what we have been training for, what we stand for, what we are willing to die for, for this is our moment. For the God of Darren!”
“FOR THE GOD OF DARREN!”
At the same time Gabon rallied up his own troops, and the two bands charged into battle. While the mortals dueled the demigods focused on each other, and soon the pair grew wings and clashed swords in the skies above their men. Eventually the people of Gabon got the upper hand and Adremulek watched in horror as his people fled. As Adremulek was distracted by his lost Gabon clipped one of wings with his blade and Adremulek fell to the ground while Gabon laughed. As Adremulek fell Gabon dove back onto the ground and called to his men.
“The enemy has fallen on this day, so let us rejoice. We may now return home to our families in peace.”
Adremulek hit the ground and coughed out sand. He watched as Gabon and his men left, cursing Gabon for his lack of devotion and taking no heed of his own injured men. He cared only for the blood of Gabon. He would not be satisfied until Gabon’s ichor adorned his blade. The battle was not over yet.
***
Adremulek returned home and reported the horrible things that had befallen the men of Darren at the hands of Gabon, and said the reason for this tradgedy was because the people did show enough devotion to their God. Soon Adremeluk had more men than ever as the fury of revenge was strong in their hearts. Skirmish after skirmish Gabon and Adremulek brought armies to fight, and the casualties began to stack up. Adremulek did not mind the loss, but Darren was running out of men, and Adremulek needed manpower to when this battle. However, as the people of Darren other’s heard of their plight and the evils of Gabon, and soon Adremulek united several villiages for his cause. As the years went by Darren ceased to exist, and in its place was the kingdom of Adremulek, waged in eternal war with the nation of Gabon.
As decades flew by the people forgot the reason for the feud, only that the people of Gabon were the enemy, there crimes were to great and that they must die. Whiles the rivaling kingdoms grew stronger Adremulek and Gabon focused themselves so that they too may grow stronger. They took not heed of the bloodshed, minding only that they were growing tired of the enemy and that the only way they could end this was through the death of the other. At last the time came where Adremulek and Gabon agreed to end this through single duel as they both felt that this had been going on for far too long. The armies of the two kingdoms watched from opposite ends of the battle fields as their champions and kings stepped out to meet each other for the final showdown. Adremulek was dressed in gold armor and wore the red crest of Adremulek as he wield a ruby encrusted sword that his people made for him, while Gabon garbed a blue robe with silver trim and held a elaborate glaive. The two walked until they stood 50 paces from eachother than they turned to face eachother.
“So Gabon, at last you have discovered that cannot avoid you destiny and have swallowed your fear and have come to face your death at my hands, the hands of the great and powerful Adremulek.”
“I never feared you, Adremulek, I’ve just grown tired of playing with you, every game looses its fun eventually. Today is the day where I shall finally avenge my dog, my wife, and all of my people who have died at your hands. Prepare to die, Adremulek.”
Adremulek roared and then charged into battle. The two locked their blades, and they did duel for seven days without stopping. Finally Gabon was fed up with fighting fairly and he tossed his glaive at Adremulek, spearing him through the gut and transformed into a dragon. Adremulek winced in pain, but he was too determined to be defeated this easiliy, and he tore the glaive out of his belly and fought the dragon with one blade in each hand until he plunged both blades deep into its chest in his fury. As he withdrew the blades Gabon hissed and turned back into his humaniod form. He was now without weapon, so he did something that before then was beyond any of there powers: he became part of the earth itself and shook Adremulek. After a man of Adremulek was killed by the earthquake the truce and was broken and the armies collided. Adremulek retaliated to Gabon by turning into a blizzard in an attemp to freeze Gabon, and the final battle of the demigods began.
Gabon took on the form of a fire storm and thawed Adremulek’s blizzard, so the other demigod turned into the ocean to extinguish the fire, and Gabon turned into a tornado and sucked up Adremulek and carried him upwards. Soon they were miles above the ground, and then Gabon released him and they both took on the form of glowing, winged, beings, both wielding the weapon they had during the duel. As they clashed both with their blades and with their magic the people continued to fight on the ground.
Soon both of the enemies were gravely wounded. Eventually Gabon happened to glance at the ground, and then he stopped. He had just seen the devastation that they had caused, both through the wars they had started and through the natural disasters they had taken the form of in their last battle. Adremulek tried to take the opportunity to finish off the frozen Gabon, but he reacted just as the swords was about to hit his head with a parry they sent both of their blades hurling towards the ground. Adremulek was furious, and he grabbed onto to the divine form of Gabon and held him tight in an unbreakable embrace. Gabon placed his grip on Adremulek in return, and together each tried to squeeze the life out of the other. As they held each other they began to fall and they flipped over, heading head first towards the ground. They were tens of thousands of feet up, and once Gabon realized what was going to happen to them he let go of of Adremulek and tried to break free of his grip. However, Adremulek was too determined and too strong. For the first time in his life Gabon felt true fear, and now he was starting to panic.
“Adremulek, stop! Do you realize what you are doing? You’re going to kill both of us, as well as anyone who is caught in the shock wave. We have already done too much harm. Is this really what you want?”
“Any amount of destruction is permissible if it results in the destruction of you. Prepare to die, foul Gabon..”
Now they were trailing fire, and as Gabon felt the burn he screamed one last thing.
“I don’t want to die!”
Then they hit the ground. The shock separated the pair, sending them tumbling across the ground, and then they were still.
***
Adremulek awoke. He was still alive, and was now wearing the robe he wore back when he served Jarin instead of the royal armor. As he got up and became aware of his surroundings it appeared that he was in Hell. The ground was scorched and desolate, littered with random flames, and the horizon appeared to be a ring of fire. Except for the fire there was only one other thing. He saw the crushed form of Gabon, slowly raising just as he had. Adremulek’s work was not done yet. He reached into his pocket and felt that the object Jarin gave him had changed. He took it out and examined it. It was now a dagger with a golden hilt and two black blades that shared the same tang. Adremulek hid the weapon in his sleeve and approached Gabon.
Gabon was now on his feet with one hand pressed to his face. When he saw Adremulek he spoke.
“Adremulek, this can’t go on. I’ve finally seen the light and I realized that this battle isn’t worth the costs. In the end all this leads to is the destruction of everything. Its not too late. Together we will be strong enough to recreate the world, undo the harm we have done. I forgive you, Adremulek, for all your offences. Will you do the same for me so that we can start a new?”
Gabon opened his arms, inviting Adremulek for an embrace. Adremulek froze, as this was the last thing he expected. After all these years Gabon forgave him. Adremulek felt something burn within his heart, he felt something he never felt before. Before he knew what he was doing he found himself in Gabon’s arms.
Tears were now flowing down Gabon’s face. However, even though Adremulek felt the knew warmth in his heart, he still felt the pain, and it would not go away. Suddenly Gabon’s eyes opened wide and he broke away from Adremulek. He took a few steps backwards, and looked at his chest. Two blades were now protruding from his breast with silvery ichor dripping from them. He mouthed “why” as the ichor slowly turned red.
“I don’t care what the cost, I just can’t let you go after what you’ve done. I’m couldn’t let it end any other way after all we have been through. You nearly had me there for a second, but I cannot give up my honor that easily, and I have fallen for your tricks too many times. You didn’t fool my this time. Now you may join your dog, your wife, and all those that we killed. Farewell, sweet Gabon.”
Gabon then fell forward as his skin flaked off and flew away in a shower of dust the color of rust. The demigod was dead. Adremulek then got down onto his knees, picked upon the skull of Gabon, and laughed.
“I see you Gabon, stand up and fight like a man.”
The man then spun around and glared back at Adremulek. Sure enough the figure was none other than Gabon, the demonic visage was unmistakable. Gabon slowly rose up, one of his hands morphing into the blade of a claymore, then he spoke.
“So Adremulek, we meet again. I thought I had finished you off with our last battle. No worries, I’ll enjoy making my vengeance on your pathetic self. You shall pay for the day you killed my wife and my dog.”
“Did you honestly think it would that easy to stop the great and powerful Adremulek? Your foul mongrel had it coming to him, and so did the whore. After all you did steal the grail from me first, as well as burnt down my village. Now it is time for you to finally be brought to justice for what you have done.”
Adremlulek then morphed one of his arms into a blade to match Gabon’s and the two charged at each other. Bitterly the two locked swords, and soon they fenced in the middle of the bar, fellow drinker’s looking in awe. Gabon feinted, and as Adremulek made a parry Gabon struck at his foe. Adremulek dodged, but the blade grazed his cheek. Adremulek grimaced from the pain, and now he was furious, rushing at Gabon with renewed theory. Gabon did his best to fend off the onslaught, then darted to the side, away from Adremulek. He then outstretched his hand, causing a series of bottles and glasses to shatter. He then brought the shards in front of him and shot them towards his enemy. Adremulek telekineticly lifted up a table to shield him from the glass, which became embedded into the table.
The two then decided to crank up their battle a notch, and soon they were flinging fire and lightning at each other. A few drunkards and a bartender was caught in the crossfire and immediately incinerated, but neither deity took notice. They were too busy trying to destroy each other that they cared for nothing else. Eventually Adremulek caught Gabon with a lightning blast as his Nemesis was trying to dodge a fireball. The blow sent Gabon flying across the room and hit the ground.
Adremulek approached the body and prodded it with his foot. Gabon didn’t move, but Adremulek felt that he was still alive. The demigod lifted Gabon up by the scruff of his neck and turned him around. In an instant Gabon sent a blast of fire into his captor’s chest, causing him to release his grip and knocking him across the ground. Gabon then turned into a shadow and slunk away.
“Come back, you coward!”
But it was too late. Gabon was already gone. Adremulek cursed and walked out of the bar, ignoring the wreckage he left in his wake. Once again Adremulek was on the pursuit of Gabon.
***
Adremulek had been transversing the desert for months now. Every time he thought he caught up with Gabon his adversary seemed to slip away. Adremulek had been running the entire time, and only now did he feel the need to stop and catch his breath. As Adremulek placed his hands on his knees for a second, and panted he saw something just in the distance. He felt the presence of a great being over there, a feeling he only felt in presence of Gabon and other demigods. Adremulek stealthy snuck up upon being from behind, taking on the form of a shadow as he dwelt within the darkness. When he came close enough to the figure to see that it was not Gabon, he revealed himself.
“I am the great and powerful Adremulek. I have come seeking the being known as Gabon. Do you know of his whereabouts?”
The figure was wearing an ebony mask and a cotton robe. As Adremulek spoke it rose up. After it stretched itself to its full height, which was over ten feet, the figure spoke in raspy voice.
“Adremulek.....and Gabon. I have heard of you two. More so, I’ve heard the grudge between you and the devastation that has been caused because of it. Yes, I do know where Gabon is, as he passed by here not to long ago. Before I tell you that may you answer this: how many more people must die because of this petty struggle? When will this end, Adremulek?”
“I will not let this end until Gabon is dead. He has hurt my honor far to greatly to be left alive. If you give me the location of the fiend I may finish him off sooner and this may end faster.”
“Honor, is that what this is about? Do you know how many conflicts could have been avoided if a man just swallowed up his pride? If this is really what you want then I will tell you what you desire. My name is Jarin, and I’m the sage of this desert. If you serve for me for seven years, and at the end of those seven years you still have the desire to seek after Gabon I will tell you of his whereabouts, as I can see all things.”
Adremulek thought for a moment, pondering whether it would be in his best interest to continue to search for Gabon on his own or accept this mans offer and wait seven years to learn the truth.
“Adremulek, if you agree to work for me you will be able to find me here again anytime in the future and never again will you loose sight of what you seek after.”
With that he made his mind up. Seven years would be but an instant if it meant the chance to destroy Gabon once and for all.
***
And so Adremulek served Jarin for seven years. The sage made Adremulek go down to the earth, working with the creatures, growing the plants, aiding nomads and other travelers through the desert. Jarin was trying to get Adremulek to feel for the inhabitants of the desert, look beyond his own struggle and see what his grudge was destroying, but Adremulek had hardened his heart too much to feel anything except for his hate for Gabon during all those years. Everyday he only got through by thinking about how sweet revenge would finally be. Finally the day came where he had reached the final day of his servitude.
“So Adrekulek, you have now served for me for seven years and I most uphold my promise. Now I must ask you, do you still want this?”
“I’ve been diligently serving you for seven years. Of course I still want what I came after, why else would I have kept serving you?”
Jarin was saddened by this, but there was nothing he could do now.
“Very well, I thought I could change your heart, but I was wrong. Gabon went to the North Pole, and he has been there for the last four years.”
Adremulek turned and was about to sprint off to the north when Jarin spoke.
“Wait! Before you leave I have one last thing for you.”
He then with drew a spherical metal object from his robes and handed it to Adremulek.
“When the time comes that you must end this the fate of the world will rest on how you use this. Only through this may the battle end.”
Adremulek took the object and put into a pocket in his own robes. He then head off the the north, awaiting his destiny.
***
For three years Adremulek ventured north, across deserts, plains, forests, and frozen seas. Even as the soles of his feet wore away and the ice bit into his flesh he felt nothing, as he was to set on getting revenge to feel pain. Pain was a thing of the moment, destroying Gabon would make it all worth it.
Eventually Adremulek made it to the North Pole. To his surprise he found that there was a giant ice palace in front of him. Adremulek cursed Gabon’s name and his cowardice. He then walked around the fortress, analysing its weak points, then be started pacing, developing a plan of attack. Finally he had his plan: he was just going to force his way in.
Adremulek turned himself into a dragon and blasted fire at the wall, melting it. He had to be careful to make sure the structure didn’t collapse on him. As he entered the ice palace he was surprised by how quiet it was inside. He found himself in a large, empty chamber. He searched the room for a moment, then decided to bust down a wall. As he charged through it the ice shattered like glass, but his scaly hide protected him. He found himself in a corridor that was as empty as the room. As he explored the corridor it lead to another hall way, and found himself in a labyrinth.
After wandering in the maze for a while he felt Gabon’s presence, and like a compass he used it to lead him to the center. There he found Gabon, sitting on a throne of ice.
“I’ve been waiting here for seven years, Adremulek. What took you so long? You are really starting to disappoint me. Let’s end this.”
As Adremulek pounced on Gabon he drew a sword made ice to protect himself. Adremulek changed course at the last moment to prevent him from being skewered, and Gabon took advantage of the the moment to stab Adremulek in the flank. The blow was not normal, as it froze he leg with a magic ice that crept up his limb and made it impossible for him to move effectively. Gabon jumped back and smiled at what he had done.
“Really, I expected better of if you. Is this really all it took to defeat the ‘great and powerful’ Adremulek?”
Adremulek was furious at this point and attempted to fry Gabon with a blast of fire, but Gabon dodged it and the flames hit the back of the room, starting to melt it.
“Well, I would like to stay with you for a while, but it seems that my home is loosing its support and I really need to go. Tell my dog and my wife that I miss them once your in Hell.”
Gabon jumped up, knocked a hole through the ceiling, and flew away in the form of the dove. The castles promptly lost support and collapsed on top of Adremulek.
***
Adremulek gasped for air and climbed out of the Artic sea and back onto the ice. After he was forced under the surface when the ice broke he was stuck there for four days. Adremulek was now enraged with every thread of his being, even more so than before. Gabon had humiliated him for the last time. Next time he would show no mercy, he was going to tear Gabon to pieces.
But that would have to wait. In order to get revenge on Gabon he needed to find him and to do that he had to return to Jarin.
***
Once again Adremulek made the painful trek between the North Pole and the sacred grounds of Jarin. This time it only took him two years, for now his hate for Gabon was so intense that it hurt him, and he turned that pain into rage which drove him on. The journey to Jarin felt like only a day to the enraged demigod.
At last made it back to the sacred grounds. He looked everywhere for Jarin, but couldn’t find him. Adremulek lost his patience and shouted into the desert.
“JARIN, WHERE ARE YOU! I NEED YOU NOW.”
“Have patience. Its required if you wish to accomplish your hearts desires.”
Adremulek turned around and saw the masked figure of Jarin behind him. He cursed himself for not picking up on his aura in his rage.
“Once again I am in need of your assistance in finding Gabon.”
“Yes, I see where he is right now. He is very close.”
Adremulek was shaking with anticipation.
“Where is he?”
“I can’t tell you, but I can show you.”
Jarin motioned for Adremulek to follow him and he did. Jarin lead Adremulek across the barren desert rock for four days then they made it to a cave in the wall of canyon. Jarin entered the cave and Adremulek was right behind him behind. Soon they were deep into the cavern, into pitch blackness. Adremulek illuminated the cavern, and he then saw that Jarin was no longer in front of him. He heard a the sound of something clattering behind him and he turned around.
What appeared to have have been Jarin threw off his mask and robe and proved to be none other than Gabon, changing into a wolf and pouncing onto Adremulek. Adremulek manged to dodge just in time and turned into a bear, grabbing onto the wolf and attempting to tear it apart. Gabon responded by taking the form of a honey badger, biting the bear, and wiggling out of its claws. Adremulek granted in pain and then retreated as the badger swarmed over him. He howled as Gabon bit into his ear, and after he could take no more he realized what could beat a honey badger. He then took the form of a golden eagle, grabbing the badger in his talons, carrying him up and preparing to snap his neck with his beak.
Gabon was cunning, and he turned into a big rock, pulling Adremulek to the ground. The moment Adremulek released him he took on the form of a tiger and and bit into the eagle. Adremulek screeched, turned into a mouse, fell out of the tiger’s mouth and scurried away. For once it was Adremulek who was fleeing from the fight. After Adremulek cowwerd behind a rock and licked his wounds he turned back into his true form. Adremulek could not bear the shame, the shame of fleeing from a battle, and he decided that with this much shame it couldn’t get much worse. Adremulek was going to get help, but he would preserve his honor by dealing the final blow himself.
Help. Asking someone to assist him was going to be shameful, but nothing could be as shameful as letting Gabon when. Adremulek slowly limped towards the nearest village, dreading what he had to do next.
***
“Hearken unto me, people of Darren! I have came to give you a grave message. There is witch preying on us from within the desert. He is the one who placed the curse on the child which I cleansed. He wants to steal our wives and children, to turn us away from our god and to the devil. This man of darkness even tried to kill a holy man such as myself. Look upon the wounds that the fiend has inflicted me.”
Adremulek flashed the injuries that he got from his most recent battle with Gabon. The twisted scars were clear, and the people winced at the sight. He had entranced the people of Darren earlier by healing a sick boy, and then asked for an audience with the people, claiming he was a powerful prophet with a warning for the people.
“Yes, our enemy is strong, and be you faith and work together we can overcome him. The witch has immense power, but he is still just a mortal man, just one who sold his soul to the devil. By the power of our God we may vanquish him and be free. We can do this.”
He then conjured up an apparition that showed Gabon. The people were absolutely mesmerized now, and they began to murmur and their hearts were stirred against Gabon. Adremulk’s plan was working. Gabon wasn’t the only one who could use tricks to in his battles.
***
Adremulek had a group of followers with him now. Now they had but a single goal in mind: to kill Gabon so that they may sleep in peace. Together they pledged their allegiance to Adremulek and they now held a banner devoted to their new lord. They were only wondering through the desert for a few days when they encountered a party was much like there own. Adremulek was perplexed, but then he noticed who there leader was. Gabon was now leading just about the same number of followers as Adremulek. The cunning coward had the same idea as Adremulek, and there was only one way this could end.
“My people, there stands the witch and his followers. The devil may be strong and a great deceiver, but we are stronger than he is as we have the truth on our side. Remember what we have been training for, what we stand for, what we are willing to die for, for this is our moment. For the God of Darren!”
“FOR THE GOD OF DARREN!”
At the same time Gabon rallied up his own troops, and the two bands charged into battle. While the mortals dueled the demigods focused on each other, and soon the pair grew wings and clashed swords in the skies above their men. Eventually the people of Gabon got the upper hand and Adremulek watched in horror as his people fled. As Adremulek was distracted by his lost Gabon clipped one of wings with his blade and Adremulek fell to the ground while Gabon laughed. As Adremulek fell Gabon dove back onto the ground and called to his men.
“The enemy has fallen on this day, so let us rejoice. We may now return home to our families in peace.”
Adremulek hit the ground and coughed out sand. He watched as Gabon and his men left, cursing Gabon for his lack of devotion and taking no heed of his own injured men. He cared only for the blood of Gabon. He would not be satisfied until Gabon’s ichor adorned his blade. The battle was not over yet.
***
Adremulek returned home and reported the horrible things that had befallen the men of Darren at the hands of Gabon, and said the reason for this tradgedy was because the people did show enough devotion to their God. Soon Adremeluk had more men than ever as the fury of revenge was strong in their hearts. Skirmish after skirmish Gabon and Adremulek brought armies to fight, and the casualties began to stack up. Adremulek did not mind the loss, but Darren was running out of men, and Adremulek needed manpower to when this battle. However, as the people of Darren other’s heard of their plight and the evils of Gabon, and soon Adremulek united several villiages for his cause. As the years went by Darren ceased to exist, and in its place was the kingdom of Adremulek, waged in eternal war with the nation of Gabon.
As decades flew by the people forgot the reason for the feud, only that the people of Gabon were the enemy, there crimes were to great and that they must die. Whiles the rivaling kingdoms grew stronger Adremulek and Gabon focused themselves so that they too may grow stronger. They took not heed of the bloodshed, minding only that they were growing tired of the enemy and that the only way they could end this was through the death of the other. At last the time came where Adremulek and Gabon agreed to end this through single duel as they both felt that this had been going on for far too long. The armies of the two kingdoms watched from opposite ends of the battle fields as their champions and kings stepped out to meet each other for the final showdown. Adremulek was dressed in gold armor and wore the red crest of Adremulek as he wield a ruby encrusted sword that his people made for him, while Gabon garbed a blue robe with silver trim and held a elaborate glaive. The two walked until they stood 50 paces from eachother than they turned to face eachother.
“So Gabon, at last you have discovered that cannot avoid you destiny and have swallowed your fear and have come to face your death at my hands, the hands of the great and powerful Adremulek.”
“I never feared you, Adremulek, I’ve just grown tired of playing with you, every game looses its fun eventually. Today is the day where I shall finally avenge my dog, my wife, and all of my people who have died at your hands. Prepare to die, Adremulek.”
Adremulek roared and then charged into battle. The two locked their blades, and they did duel for seven days without stopping. Finally Gabon was fed up with fighting fairly and he tossed his glaive at Adremulek, spearing him through the gut and transformed into a dragon. Adremulek winced in pain, but he was too determined to be defeated this easiliy, and he tore the glaive out of his belly and fought the dragon with one blade in each hand until he plunged both blades deep into its chest in his fury. As he withdrew the blades Gabon hissed and turned back into his humaniod form. He was now without weapon, so he did something that before then was beyond any of there powers: he became part of the earth itself and shook Adremulek. After a man of Adremulek was killed by the earthquake the truce and was broken and the armies collided. Adremulek retaliated to Gabon by turning into a blizzard in an attemp to freeze Gabon, and the final battle of the demigods began.
Gabon took on the form of a fire storm and thawed Adremulek’s blizzard, so the other demigod turned into the ocean to extinguish the fire, and Gabon turned into a tornado and sucked up Adremulek and carried him upwards. Soon they were miles above the ground, and then Gabon released him and they both took on the form of glowing, winged, beings, both wielding the weapon they had during the duel. As they clashed both with their blades and with their magic the people continued to fight on the ground.
Soon both of the enemies were gravely wounded. Eventually Gabon happened to glance at the ground, and then he stopped. He had just seen the devastation that they had caused, both through the wars they had started and through the natural disasters they had taken the form of in their last battle. Adremulek tried to take the opportunity to finish off the frozen Gabon, but he reacted just as the swords was about to hit his head with a parry they sent both of their blades hurling towards the ground. Adremulek was furious, and he grabbed onto to the divine form of Gabon and held him tight in an unbreakable embrace. Gabon placed his grip on Adremulek in return, and together each tried to squeeze the life out of the other. As they held each other they began to fall and they flipped over, heading head first towards the ground. They were tens of thousands of feet up, and once Gabon realized what was going to happen to them he let go of of Adremulek and tried to break free of his grip. However, Adremulek was too determined and too strong. For the first time in his life Gabon felt true fear, and now he was starting to panic.
“Adremulek, stop! Do you realize what you are doing? You’re going to kill both of us, as well as anyone who is caught in the shock wave. We have already done too much harm. Is this really what you want?”
“Any amount of destruction is permissible if it results in the destruction of you. Prepare to die, foul Gabon..”
Now they were trailing fire, and as Gabon felt the burn he screamed one last thing.
“I don’t want to die!”
Then they hit the ground. The shock separated the pair, sending them tumbling across the ground, and then they were still.
***
Adremulek awoke. He was still alive, and was now wearing the robe he wore back when he served Jarin instead of the royal armor. As he got up and became aware of his surroundings it appeared that he was in Hell. The ground was scorched and desolate, littered with random flames, and the horizon appeared to be a ring of fire. Except for the fire there was only one other thing. He saw the crushed form of Gabon, slowly raising just as he had. Adremulek’s work was not done yet. He reached into his pocket and felt that the object Jarin gave him had changed. He took it out and examined it. It was now a dagger with a golden hilt and two black blades that shared the same tang. Adremulek hid the weapon in his sleeve and approached Gabon.
Gabon was now on his feet with one hand pressed to his face. When he saw Adremulek he spoke.
“Adremulek, this can’t go on. I’ve finally seen the light and I realized that this battle isn’t worth the costs. In the end all this leads to is the destruction of everything. Its not too late. Together we will be strong enough to recreate the world, undo the harm we have done. I forgive you, Adremulek, for all your offences. Will you do the same for me so that we can start a new?”
Gabon opened his arms, inviting Adremulek for an embrace. Adremulek froze, as this was the last thing he expected. After all these years Gabon forgave him. Adremulek felt something burn within his heart, he felt something he never felt before. Before he knew what he was doing he found himself in Gabon’s arms.
Tears were now flowing down Gabon’s face. However, even though Adremulek felt the knew warmth in his heart, he still felt the pain, and it would not go away. Suddenly Gabon’s eyes opened wide and he broke away from Adremulek. He took a few steps backwards, and looked at his chest. Two blades were now protruding from his breast with silvery ichor dripping from them. He mouthed “why” as the ichor slowly turned red.
“I don’t care what the cost, I just can’t let you go after what you’ve done. I’m couldn’t let it end any other way after all we have been through. You nearly had me there for a second, but I cannot give up my honor that easily, and I have fallen for your tricks too many times. You didn’t fool my this time. Now you may join your dog, your wife, and all those that we killed. Farewell, sweet Gabon.”
Gabon then fell forward as his skin flaked off and flew away in a shower of dust the color of rust. The demigod was dead. Adremulek then got down onto his knees, picked upon the skull of Gabon, and laughed.