Ethan Bright's face was ashen. "Stonehaven, we have a major problem. One of the Demon Lords' Eight Guardians; the Dark Arch-Sorcerer they call the Double-Headed Raven King, has gotten his hands on a divine weapon. The Glacier Blue Crystal Sword. You know the one; the blade Andreas used to slay the Red Dragon."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a terrified whisper. "If the Raven King acquires its counterpart, the Blazing Purple Rainbow Blade, the fusion of the two will unleash enough energy to break the seal on the Half-Beast Leader, the Sky-Shaker Beast. If the Half-Beasts and Demons unite… humanity won't stand a chance. This is it, Stonehaven. This is the end."
The sheer dread on Ethan's face was proof enough of the Sky-Shaker's horror.
"It can't happen. You need to get back to Lord Leon Drake, now. Tell him to dispatch every available knight to Pegasus Citadel. Their sacred charge is to protect the city's guardian artifact; the Blazing Purple Rainbow Blade. It cannot fall into the Demon's hands."
Ethan's hand shot out, gripping Marcus's arm with a desperate strength.
"Ding! Stonehaven, the Red River Village investigation quest has been updated. Return to Dragon's Peak Citadel immediately and report your findings to Lord Leon Drake."
"Captain, I can't just leave you like this."
"It's over for me. My insides are pulp. I'm not making it out of here, and I won't have your death on my conscience too. You need to go. Now. And for God's sake, stay out of sight. If the Raven King on the second level catches your scent, you'll never escape."
He coughed, a wet, ragged sound. "There's more. After the Raven King found the sword here, he moved his operation to the second level of the Elven Path. He's using some kind of ritual to force a gate open; the Elven Canyon Gate. He means to steal their Sacred Artifact, the Elven Sacred Bow. Leon Drake needs to know. He has to send someone… anyone who can stand against him."
A look of despair crossed his face. "God, I hope it's not too late. They've been down there for hours. Where do we find someone of that caliber on such short notice?"
'What exactly are they doing down there?' Marcus wondered, his gaze drifting toward the path's shadowy depths.
"Stonehaven, listen to me!" Ethan's voice was frantic, sensing his curiosity. "Do not go down there! The Raven King… he's not like any mage we've seen. When he found our squad, he didn't even bother with magic. He just… used the fan in his hand. Beat twenty-three of us to death, one after the other. We couldn't even touch him."
He gave Marcus a final, weak shove. "Your mission is to report back. Don't throw it all away for a stupid, suicidal look!"
Ethan coughed again, a violent, final fit, then his body went limp, his head lolling to the side.
'But what is the Double-Headed Raven King doing on the second level?'
Marcus stroked his chin, the curiosity now a physical itch. He had to sneak a peek.
'Ah, hell with it.'
With a show like this happening right under his nose, how could he not get a backstage pass? Let someone else worry about seals and ancient beasts and saving the world. He was no chosen one. Weren't troubled times just an opportunity for the ambitious?
He was more interested in what was in it for him. He started down the path.
Besides, a mage so powerful he could club a Level 40 squad to death with a 'fan'? That was a monster you had to see to believe. Maybe he could even learn a trick or two.
He crept forward. The empty corridor was silent, save for the sputter of torchlight.
At the entrance to the second level, two Minotaur Axemen stood guard. A familiar routine later, they were dispatched. He peered into the dark entrance.
'Let's see what's behind door number two.'
Slipping inside, Marcus immediately pressed himself against the wall, scanning the chamber.
It was deceptively quiet, empty of life. But at the far end, a bright, pulsating light flickered. He moved toward it, keeping to the shadows.
"Whoa."
He barely stifled the sound. The path opened into a vast hall, and the sight was staggering.
Dominating the far wall was a gateway of shimmering green energy, five times the height of a man. Immense power rolled off it in visible waves. This had to be the Elven Gate.
Before it, a semicircle of high-level Dark Sorcerers in glistening black robes chanted in low, guttural unison. Their glowing staves channeled beams of dark energy, all converging on a single Pet Egg floating at the center of their formation.
'Incredible,' Marcus thought. Any one of those beams would vaporize him on the spot.
The egg, humming with absorbed power, spun rapidly, greedily drinking both the dark magic and the green energy bleeding from the gate. Marcus understood instantly: they were using the egg as a battery and a key to force the gate open.
'Okay, so what's my play here?'
His mind raced. These sorcerers were locked in their ritual, probably Level 80 or higher. But he never left an adventure completely empty-handed.
'Wait a minute. Who's that?'
His eyes landed on a mage in a coat of black feathers, hovering slightly off the ground. In his hand was a longsword of crystal-clear blue ice, radiating cold power.
The Glacier Blue Crystal Sword. And its owner could only be one person: the Double-Headed Raven King.
"Caw, caw!"
As the Elven Gate's light began to stutter and dim, the Raven King let out a series of excited caws, gesturing for his minions to redouble their efforts. They were close.
Now Marcus got a clear look at him. He was a short, grotesque figure with two squawking raven heads sprouting from his shoulders. An aura of dark, liquid energy clung to him like a shroud.
'Now or never.'
He couldn't just watch this happen.
'Screw it. Go big or go home.'
He made his choice. Playing it safe was a sure way to end up with nothing. The sorcerers were distracted. If he waited for the ritual to end, his chance was gone.
He cast Phantom, his form blurring into the background, and began a slow, deliberate approach toward the pulsating Pet Egg.
Sure, he desperately wanted that sword, but the Raven King's whole… vibe… suggested that was a very short-lived ambition.
'Priorities. Stay alive.'
An egg absorbing that much raw power had to be valuable. It was a risk worth taking.
The hall was compact. He had about a minute of stealth, more than enough to close the distance.
He slipped into the semicircle, the chanting Dark Sorcerers oblivious. Ten more seconds and he could grab it.
"Caw… Caw!"
The Double-Headed Raven King went still. Both heads swiveled, four malevolent eyes locking directly onto Marcus's hidden position. A brilliant light flashed in those eyes, and beams of darkness lanced out, pinpointing his exact location.
'Damn, he can see me!'
Marcus's blood ran cold. The guy had seen straight through his best stealth ability.
He watched in horror as the Glacier Blue Crystal Sword in the Double-Headed Raven King's hand morphed, folding and contorting into a menacing fan of black feathers.
Without a second thought, Marcus cast Wraith. A surge of speed coursed through him, and he threw all caution to the wind, making a desperate, final dash for the egg.