Kiyoshi charged into the crumbling town hall with Alec, where the officials had set up furniture to block the main door.
"Captain?" the Chair cried, "but we thought you were at Ferndale."
"I received intelligence that the Necromancers are marching straight here, so I came." Kiyoshi hoisted two officials with limp legs. "We need you get you all out of here. Alec!" The soldier soluted. "You must get all the civilians out of the city. Get them onto the east plains. We'll meet you there!" Alec rushed out of the hall.
"This way! Hurry!" Kiyoshi beckoned to the rest of the officials. He led them towards the side door where he had come in. A few zombies have blocked their way. With one quick draw and swing of his halberd, Kiyoshi dismantled them and cleared a path.
"Has the beacon been removed?" He asked the official in charge of transport as he caught up.
"Yes, we removed the Nether Star yesterday." She replied. "Felora has been on lockdown ever since."
"Good." Replied Kiyoshi. "That will at least prevent these foul demons from attacking the other capitals."
They were now passing through the Central Park of Felora. It was the fastest way through to the east side. Going around the fountain, they suddenly stopped dead in their tracks.
A figure, wearing purple robes and a white skeleton inscribed in the front, blocked their path. Flanking him was a Necromancer and Nikka.
"Ah, Captain Kiyoshi." The Necrolord cooed. "You must realize you are defeated." He caressed his staff, running his long fingers along the black spine. "What ssshame you must feel to have allowed your kingdom to fall to sssuch… what did you call us? 'Foul demonsss?'"
"Go back the way we came and around the park." Kiyoshi told the council members. "I'll deal with this head demon myself."
"We'll see you again, right captain?" The Secretary tremored. "You are the greatest duelist this side of Ardonia."
"Yes." Answered the warrior. "You have nothing to fear. Now GO!" He watched as the council turned a corner and out of sight.
"As long as I stand," Kiyoshi drew his halberd to face the Necrolord, "So shall Feldon!"
"Ah, hahaha!" The Necrolord cackled. "I'm so glad you sssee it that way. You are asss courageousss asss your dead soldiersss." He held his staff high, and Nikka stepped in front of him, katanas drawn. "but soon you will join them. This is not a battle you can win. You are outnumbered and alone."
"Arrgh!" The Necromancer gave out a howl. A sword had pierced his chest and a man stepped forth.
"He's not alone!" Lucan declared. The Necrolord smashed his staff down, but Lucan rolled forward and stood up beside Kiyoshi, stabbing a zombie behind them.
"You hardly count." Kiyoshi retorted. "And this won't clear your sentence."
"Right, right, I'm still obligated." Lucan rolled his eyes. "We can argue about that later."
The Necrolord hissed. "Kill him." Nikka sprang after Lucan, who turned tails and sprinted down the path.
"Now," the Necrolord cooed, turning back to Kiyoshi, "my handsssome. It'sss just the two of usss." He thrust his staff forward, forcing Kiyoshi to flip onto his back.
Lucan ran to the shore of the park's lake. Behind him, Nikka charged out of the bushes and flew into the air. She pulled both her blades forward and slammed down. Lucan blocked and his legs buckled. He bent down on his left knee. Nikka landed in front of him, and drew back her weapons for a second strike.
"WAIT! Nikka, please listen." Lucan put away his sword. Nikka looked at him curiously.
"There's something I have to tell you, something I wanted since the day we met." He approached her, coming so close that her soft chest touched his. She put away her weapons. "I should have told you before but… I couldn't." Lucan, sensing success, pulled her closer. "And if I don't do it now, I might not have another chance." They walked together to the shore, overlooking the calm waters.
"Nikka…" Lucan turned her face toward his, looking into her beautiful eyes. Her eyelashes glinted under the sun. His hands found her waist, and moved up to her shoulders. She stood motionless, and only leaned her head to one side under the Necrolord's control.
"You really need to learn how to swim." Before she could react, Lucan pushed her into the lake.
He stood there, anxiously watching the surface. Had he cleared away the curse? Or worse, had she drowned?
"AH!" Nikka screamed as her head popped out of the water. She clawed for the shore, leaving scratch marks in the stone. "Lucan!" She screeched.
Lucan let out a held breath and helped her out of the water. Her face immediately turned serious. "We need to get back to Kiyoshi!" She grabbed Lucan by the arm.
"You are not going anywhere." A voice rang out behind them.
"His Lordship will decide what to do with you once he has finished with your… Captain." Xaria hissed. He waved for the squadron of skeletons to ready their bows. "Make one wrong move and he won't have to trouble himself with you."
Kiyoshi leapt up from his back and drew his halberd. With a swift strike, he slashed at the other's left. The Necrolord moved his staff to block, but Kiyoshi already pulled his weapon back and thrust it forward at the stomach. His opponent sidled and the tip hit air.
Now, the Necrolord went on the offensive. He swung his staff from the right, forcing Kiyoshi to retreat. His thin halberd could not block such a heavy mace. The staff thrust, and Kiyoshi bent backwards again. The staff rose, then fell, slamming into the ground. It seemed that the Necrolord only knew these moves. Kiyoshi smiled.
Carefully timing his blow, when the staff next came forward in an angry charge, Kiyoshi pierced his halberd forward and left a deep gash on the Necrolord's arm, tearing open the robe. The Necrolord grunted as red glowing markings and a stony skin poked out from beneath the tattered cloth.
Seeing his wound, the Necrolord crossed his arms across his chest and a scarlet ball of shockwave shot out from his body. Kiyoshi was thrown backwards.
"Umph!" He grunted as his back hit the stone fence. His weapon flew out of sight.
"You…are…an…Ardoni." He gasped, taking out his short sword.
"Yesss, yesss!" The Necrolord took off his mask, revealing his glowing red eyes. "I was once Xan Voltarisss."
"How? Aren't the Voltaris exterminated at the end of the Great War? Are you still doing the Deathsinger's bidding?"
"Xan Voltarisss was young and obzservant. During the War, he watched as the Nether controlled hordes of Undead, giving purpossse to creatures we thought mindless and a nuisance. When the Nether retreated, he was too weak and foolish to do anything about the Undead army they left behind, so I destroyed him." Fire roared in his eyes. "I have ssspent my entire life studying the Undead. I alone can wield the power!"
"And I!" Kiyoshi struggled to his feet, "have spent my entire life," He gripped the top of the fence, "training to defend Felden from monsters like you!"
Kiyoshi lunged forward, driving his sword through the air like an arrow. The Voltaris, still wielding the skeleton staff, pulled it back, and with one giant swing, battered Kiyoshi's sword into splinters, launching him into the wall.
"Look around you." The Necrolord strode towards the fallen captain. "Look out there, Kiyoshi." He put his hand on the torn ear and pulled Kiyoshi's head around as he knelt on the stone.
"Look at Felora. You have failed your kingdom." He pulled Kiyoshi's dagger, his third and final backup weapon, from his pouch and put it into his chest. "You are no longer standing, and Felden has fallen."
The Necrolord let the body fall to the ground and walked away.
Lucan and Nikka were shoved in front of the Necrolord, now back in a fresh set of purple skeleton robes. Kiyoshi laid on the ground behind him and Lucan couldn't help but glance at the body. Both he and Nikka held their hands behind their heads as zombies and skeletons snarled all around.
"Unhand me, you villains!" A councilman shouted. The badge in front of his chest read "Minister of Defense."
"You can't enslave us!" Screamed the councilwoman beside him. She had no badge, but Lucan thought he recognized her as the senior secretary. "We are officials of Felden!"
The Necrolord cackled. "There isss no more Feldon." He raised his staff and zombies instantly crawled over the man and woman, ripping off flesh and gnawing at their bones.
"Now, my sssweet couple." The Necrolord turned to Lucan and Nikka, ignoring the councilmen's howls. "I could use the powers of the wither and…indoctrinate you again, but I think my army isss large enough asss it isss."
He raised his staff once again. Instinctively, Lucan and Nikka embraced each other and closed their eyes, waiting for the rotten flesh pressed against their own. But the teeth never came. Lucan peeked, and opened wide.
All the zombies are frozen in their spots, gazing at a nearby hilltop. There emerged an entire battalion of black skeletons, led by an orange and black person with a giant axe. A winged dark skeleton landed beside him as a creature, with the body of the Necromancer's staff and three heads, commanded the zombies all around them.
"Run." Lucan whispered. Together he and Nikka pushed past the hordes and dashed for the woods.
"I take it you are the next Netherking?" The Necromancer lowered his staff
"Yes." Boomed Pythus. "You've done a fantastic job pretending to be king of the Undead. What is it they call you? The 'Necrolord?'" he scoffed.
Pythus pounded his axe. "I, Pythus, King of the Nether, will be resuming control of the undead in my conquest of the Overworld. I would like to thank you, however, for starting my work for me." His face remained stoney without a trace of gratitude.
The Necrolord cackled. "Oh but I have plans…" Pythus winced started down the hill towards him. "Felden is just the beginning." The Necrolord handed the staff to Xaria and took out a pair of battle axes. "After a hundred and fifty years of preparing, I am not about to stand aside for the army that broke our alliance and betrayed us during the Great War!" He charged.
Pythus swung his axe and blocked him with ease. "The alliance has been re-formed. Once more we shall bring war to Ardonia, to the Enderknights, and every other enemy that dare stand in our way. But first," He pushed the Necrolord back. "the Necromancers must step down or be eliminated."
"NEVER!" The Necrolord leapt up in the air, ready for a blow to the head. The wither shot an explosive skull right at him and the Necrolord fell to the ground. His axes flew out of his hands as the black skeletons picked them up.
"Even after all this time, you never learned the truth of the Undead." Pythus calmly approached the Necrolord, now lying on the ground dazed by the wither's effect. "They cannot be controlled. They can only be guided."
Pythus sunk his axe into the purple robe's white ribs, and the red light drained out of Xan Voltaris' eyes. A red cube, and a green one materialized beside him.
"Fly to Crown Peak and assist the Deathsinger with his Song." Pythus instructed the Angel of Death. He took off.
"As for the rest of you!" Pythus barked at the surrounding skeletons. "Search the surrounding forests! I want that beacon ready! If you do not find it within a day, I'll have a wither executed for his Star!" The army fanned out into the surrounding woods.
Lucan and Nikka stopped next to the old burnt down tree fort and climbed up. Sitting on the branches, they caught their breath.
"Huff…I think we lost them." Lucan panted. "How are you holding up?"
"I just…" puffed Nikka, "I just need a moment…hoof… I'm so confused." She held her hand to her head. "Why am I in Felora? Where did the Nether come from?!" She glared at Lucan, "Why did I wake up in the water?!!"
"You… don't remember anything?" Lucan asked, reaching over to feel her forehead for a fever.
"No." Nikka brushed away Lucan's hand. Her soft paw rubbed against his skin. "Last I recall, I was at the Necrobase facing the Necrolord. And he…told me to look into his eyes. And then, I woke up here. Did he…takeover me?"
"From what I can tell, the Necromancers used some sort of Wither effect on you." Lucan replied. "Yeah, you've been under their control for weeks."
"Oh, no, did they do something?" Nikka felt herself up and down.
"If by something, you mean trying to make you kill me, then yeah." Lucan said. Nikka glared. Then, She slapped him in the face. Lucan felt her claws across his skin.
"That was for pushing me in the water!" She hollered.
She planted a furry kiss on Lucan's other cheek. "And that," Nikka blushed rose red, "was for bringing me back." Lucan felt his face where the claws struck and where the kiss landed. "I guess you got back at me. Now come on, we have to get to the next town." He started down the tree.
"That was the Nether attacking." Nikka screeched quietly. "Where will it be safe?"
Lucan looked at her in disbelief. "How long have you been fighting the Necromancers again?"
"Over three years."
"And did you ever feel 'safe?'"
Nikka shook her head. "I guess you have a point." She leapt down the branches, landing softly on the ground.
"The Necromancers were just practice." Lucan led the way eastward. "Now the real fight begins."
"We can't hope to beat the Nether with an army at their disposal." Nikka whined.
"No, but we can cause them quite a bit of trouble." Lucan smiled. "If there's one thing about being into prison a lot of times, it's that you learn a lot from fighting the cops." He straightened up, looking taller in figure. "The Nether is gonna spread across all of Ardonia. They won't be able to defend all of the kingdoms at once. This is our home, we know this land better than they ever will."
Lucan looked Nikka in the eye. "We can breakdown their communication, burn their supplies, destroy their weapons. No matter how long it takes, we will defend our homeland."
Nikka half smiled, half grimaced. "You want to start a rebellion… against the Nether?"
"Yeah," Lucan deflated and scratched his head. "Yeah I guess it sounds pretty ridiculous."
"No, I like it." Nikka took his hand in hers. "I just didn't think you would suggest that."
They stood there, hands in hands, facing each other. Lucan breached the silence.
"Where do we start?"
"We can set up camp outside of Felora." Nikka suggested. "I can scout until we figure out the situation."
Lucan hmphed. "About time I stop doing all the wor…"
"Get down!" Nikka whispered as she dragged Lucan into a bush.
A wither drifted over them, all three of its heads swiveling around, searching for prey.
"So it has begun." Nikka whispered.