Chapter 14

Myrddin Wyllt shook his head; the young mage was good, damn good! Then there was the champion of the dark council that he had faced and lost to most miserably by all that is holy! Those two had gone at each other with an amount of power he could only imagine. True, his own power had jumped quite a bit. He was no longer in the upper low-level range; he’d passed that the first day. Now he’d say he was at the low end of the mid-range.

Waving his hand, Merlin flashed out and appeared near the opening at the back of the sanctuary. Smiling, he could feel his power climbing a bit more. Good, at least now he wasn’t as powerless as he was, though the champion would make short work of him. Laughing, Merlin thought, Ha! At least now the bastard would actually have to work a bit to beat him ah hell who was he fooling? Nodding his head, he continued to do all the spells he could to get his power to increase.

Alan turned when he felt the power flash out but saw nothing, so there were still a few lower power mages out there. Funny thing was, though, this one almost felt like Merlin, but that wasn’t possible as he remembered Merlin’s power was very low, especially compared to his. Alan could feel the throbbing in his chest as his power was increasing a bit more. Smirking, Alan thought the idiot had helped to defeat himself. Alan was already where the champion was, but now he felt he was slightly higher. Sighing, Alan thought, well, we’ll see, especially after I get rid of the higher-level mages that were left.

Hopix could see that Alan was deep in thought, but she had to know. “Alan, I thought that after we defeated over half of the dark mages that the light council could come in here.”

Alan sighed. She above everyone else should know. “Usually that would be the case, but here more than half were the weak mages. The 41 left are all of a higher power and they are holding the majority of the Lobrits here as slaves. Much like on your world, but there are far more here. I am afraid that they’re also strong enough to actually challenge me.”

Hopix nodded, then her eyes flew wide—they were that strong! Throwing her arms around Alan, she held him tight as she started to tremble. Odd, but she suddenly had a feeling of impending doom. Alan held her tight and gently kissed her, causing her to immediately calm. “We need to go to the next. The sooner we free this world, the sooner we can return, having fulfilled the promise I made to the queen,” Alan told her as they started to walk beyond where they had fought the others last time.

Alan had elevated and was floating forward at a rapid pace. He felt the attack long before they even started. The creature appeared to be a huge six-legged animal with sharp teeth and shaggy, nasty-smelling fur covering it. “Hold! You are on my territory, therefore you are dead, and your soul is mine!”

A bolt of electricity shot out at Alan ’bout time they tried something different!, bouncing harmlessly off Alan’s shield. Smiling, Alan was about to give the creature a choice when he felt several fireballs not again! hit his shield. Ah! He saw now another ambush.

“Ok, you three; I give you a choice to leave...” Alan started.

“Die, you ass!” the two behind him screamed and began rapid-firing at him. Pissed off, Alan waved a hand then made a chopping motion. One of the creatures screamed, then the head left the body. The other was also screaming, though he was missing at least four of its six legs. Alan watched as it tried to crawl away, then lay still as its life blood pumped out in a huge puddle under it.

“Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted...” Alan started again.

“I am not interested in any pathetic deal you have to offer!” the first creature sneered at Alan. “Those were my sons, therefore there will be no deal!” With that, the leader lashed out with ever-increasing power, though to Alan he was barely past half power. Then the leader started to go even higher. Alan, finally tired of it, shot an electric bolt at the leader. After the screams stopped, Alan just walked away, the charred remains still smoldering.

Turning, he took Hopix’s hand as they floated a few more minutes. Alan could feel the next dark mage but seemed to be having a hard time locating it. Rounding a corner, they found a huge cave with a huge quantity of bones outside the entrance. “This reminds me of tales I heard of on earth during Merlin’s time. Huge giants, I believe, with one eye called Cyclopes. I also believe they liked to eat beings.” Hopix looked at Alan like he was crazy, at least ‘til the twelve-foot-tall monster he’d described walked out of the cave.

Taking a huge sniff, the Cyclops looked around. “I smell a mage! YOU! I will enjoy eating your flesh, adding your power to my own. I might even be able to beat the council’s champion! Tell you what, you stay right there, I’ll crush you, make it quick, then enjoy your flesh.”

Alan shot a huge fireball at the giant, which just bounced off it. Laughing, the giant stared at Alan, “What an idiot you are. I am impervious to all magic. Better get clever or you’ll bore me, then I’ll make your death slow and extremely painful!” Alan smiled. So, impervious, huh?

Waving his hand, a large boulder rolled past the cave into the leg of the giant. With a growl, the giant actually caught the boulder and was about to throw it at Alan when Alan caught him with another in the back of his legs. As he fell back, the boulder he’d been holding came crashing down on his chest, effectively trapping him. “Let me up from here, you maggot! I’ll crush you. I’ll grind you slow, piece by piece.”

“Normally I offer a deal, but with you,” Alan spit next to the giant’s head, “Fuck you!” Alan waved both arms as the weight of the huge boulder began to get heavier and heavier. Walking away, Alan gritted his teeth. Only a minute later, the giant started to scream, threaten, beg, then there was the sickening crack as the boulder caved in the giant’s chest.

Looking at the cave, Alan made a few motions and buildings began to appear along with a huge wall. As he expected, over 8,000 Lobrits appeared not long after he finished the city. Sighing, he would have to do a massive clearing; he just hoped he had the power for it. All the Lobrits stopped in front of Alan, looking dazed and confused as they always did.

Alan made well over a dozen motions with his hands and arms, then spread his arms wide, trying to encompass all those present. Quickly he had well over 400, then he started to hit the snags. Then it increased ‘til every three out of four didn’t want to go. Pissed off again, Alan made more motions, then shot an energy wave out, effectively knocking 1,500 of the last 2,000 out. Clearing those still awake, he concentrated and sent the others to one of the 37 dark mages that were left.

Afterward, having explained and adding warnings, Alan sent them into the new city. Turning toward Hopix, he smiled. Uh Hopix, I think I did a little too much. I’m going to try and get us back, but you might need to use the cube. Hopix looked at Alan with concern as he put a hand to his head and the other holding her hand. Then they were gone. They appeared a good 50 feet from the door to the sanctuary. Alan smiled, then collapsed beside Hopix. Concentrating, Hopix managed to carry him with what little power she had she still couldn’t use her full power yet. The Lobrits came out in force, carrying Alan inside and to his bed. Hopix sat next to his bed, feeling tired herself. She knew they were almost done. She just hoped that the last secret didn’t tear them apart. Laying her head on the bed, she was soon asleep herself.

Merlin had seen them come in. He’d been practicing. He had his power right on the edge of middle mid-range. He’d found that he could now lift things—a feat he’d never been able to do except for very small things. Now he was up to at least 50-60 pounds, plus he could move at least a mile now, something that made getting back and away very useful! Looking at the two asleep, he smiled. He’d heard about Alan’s work today after he’d left. He was still amazed that the dark council hadn’t detected him, or had they and not really considered him a threat? A smile crossed his face—that was about to change!

Merlin left via the hidden back door and started to float away. It did take energy, but it got you there far faster. Besides, he needed all he had to pull this off. An hour later, he arrived at the home of his target. Pulling several crystals he’d summoned, he placed them in a certain pattern. Knocking on the door, he stepped out of sight. The moment the servant opened the door, Merlin froze him, then levitated him out of the way. He’d done this twice when the master of the place came out the door.

Chanting, Merlin watched as the crystals started to glow, then the creature couldn’t move. Merlin stepped into view as the creature smiled, that was ’til he found he couldn’t move to protect his self. Merlin smiled as he started it on fire. Moving again out of view, Merlin waited ‘til he saw others coming in. Thinking of the sanctuary, he found himself two miles away from the home he’d just left. Shocked, Merlin tried again and found he’d moved not two but two and a half miles! He was at three and a half miles when he appeared at the back door of the sanctuary.

Merlin looked at his hands that were glowing for the first time. Then he could feel throbbing in his chest. Measuring his power, he found he was now at the high end of the middle of the middle range. Finally, he thought, I actually have enough power to do something. Walking in, he saw that Alan was still asleep from clearing all the people he’d done—what now, damn near 10,000? A drop in the ocean compared to the total population. Problem was, could Alan handle it? Merlin knew he was nowhere near Alan’s level, but soon if he continued, he might actually be able to help!