Midnight Bounties 4 - Chapter 40

I never thought I’d see such a dawn. It felt like the sun itself served the Emperor and his fanatics by shedding its rays over the shining army to blind us. Shimmering, sparkling streams of Quinta funneled through our streets like molten gold through a webbed canyon. Pillars of smoke billowed as tall and thick banners with the five-pointed star flapped in the hot air.

Cunts.

Not that I still wondered what the point of it all was. From what I had seen of the Quinta, war itself was the point, but still, it couldn’t be that all those men and women clad in painted gold agreed that was should be how they’d spend their life. Was there nothing else to do in that stupid land of theirs?

Probably not. Fey’s escape was proof of that.

I saw him down there. The god of cunts, the Emperor of the Quinta. He was riding a strange, tiger-like beast that slowly strode between maniacs of the Order of Peta, Ecclesiarches, soldiers, and large lumbering beasts with short legs and long hulking arms pulling themselves ahead on their knuckles.

I flapped my wings and soared over the myriad spells flying my way. The fireballs and lightning strikes from the Quinta mages dissipated in the cinder-rich air arcing into nothingness beneath me. My eyes wandered over the destruction they brought with them.

Houses, workshops, temples and squares, all turned to rubble and flattened by the advance of their army. Daggerbeard’s House of Dairy was now nothing but burning wood and molten cheese. A crater sat next to it where Bad-Deal Larry used to screw over whoever didn’t know his name. Would anyone remember them? Would Sad Billy ever rebuild the bathhouse which served as a front for the sardak pleasure house beneath? Where did all the sardak whores go? And why was I having such thoughts in that moment?

I narrowed my eyes on my target and spat out a wad of hot, sizzling something. Demonic phlegm? Whatever.

“Come,” a voice suddenly filled my mind. I flapped my wings, turning around trying to figure out where it was coming from.

“Nasthran?” I asked to the wind.

“Come to me, let us talk,” the voice said.

 I looked down and saw that the Emperor’s retinue spread around their leader in a wide circle. He was still sitting on his mount, looking up at me.

“Talk? What the fuck do you and I have to talk about?” I yelled, not that I needed to as he could hear me just fine.

His army was already advancing toward our defensive line. Arcane shields doming both armies already shimmered absorbing projectiles from both sides. The release of magical energies burned the air, the smell reaching up to where I was.

“Pull your army back and we’ll talk,” I said.

“Forget the armies and the war. We must talk, Frank Midnight.”

I bit my lip, the razor-sharp fangs of my demon form tearing into the meat, and I winced. Stupid. Got to remember not to that. Was I intrigued? Sure. Was I also hellbent on killing the fuck? Even more. Could it be a trap? A hundred percent.

“What do you want?”

“I offer a way. Come. You and I are creatures of a kind. Help me help the world. We are burdened with the same knowledge.”

The Gods knew how much I wanted to kill the guy, but those last words scratched one hell of an itch.

“Fuck it,” I muttered to myself.

Even if it was a trap, I was confident enough in my own powers to know I could wiggle my way out of it one way or another.

I landed in front of the Emperor hard, causing the ground to shake. Both Mercy and Traitor were out at the ready just in case, though when I looked around, I didn’t see any of his retinue move an inch. Well, that might have been an understatement, even the maniacs of the Order of Penta flinched when I arrived.

 I bet there was plenty of worry behind their golden helmets, too. Gods did I hate those fucks. Each of them had at least a dozen frozen faces caught in their armor in a visage of agony. I remembered when I first saw one of them suck the soul out of one of our men. The screams alone were enough to make blood freeze. I had half a mind to abandon negotiations instantly and just start killing them.

All the while, the Emperor just sat on his mount, watching me. As I rose, I met his gaze and sheathed my swords. He glowed with a painful light that made it difficult to look at him. The Emperor was human-sized, sure, made somewhat larger by the bulky golden armor engraved with Quinta symbols and the flapping red cloak on his back, but he was by no means an imposing sight. Yet, the air around him shimmered with heat. His aura was undoubtedly the most powerful I had ever felt. Not even Castelian came close.

I let out a

“Hmm,” of uncertainty.

My first one in a while. Once you kill a god you feel like there’s nothing that can stop you, once you kill two, you actually start believing the story. Suffice to say it came as a proper slap to the face having to reconsider my outlook on my own godhood.

The Emperor’s face was something to behold. It wasn’t human by any means, nor was it like anything I had seen before. Long golden hair encased a visage that seemed to constantly change. The flesh of his face was a blur in perpetual motion, only the piercing green eyes a constant.

“What now?” I said, flames erupting between my teeth. I couldn’t say how I knew it since he didn’t really have a mouth, but there was no mistaking it, the Emeperor smiled at me.

“I didn’t think it possible,” he said.

“What?”

“To be in the presence of my equal.”

I sighed, totally not in the mood for theatrics.

“Get to the point. My people are dying.”

This didn’t sit well with the creatures around him. They seemed in shock with the way I talked to their shiny master roaring and hissing like rabid animals.

“What do you want?” I snapped.

“A sacrifice,” he said calmly.

“A sacrifice,” I repeated. “The Gods are dead. I killed them. Your sacrifices fuel nothing.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“And what do you want to sacrifice, oh great Emperor? Our army? Your army? The whole city?”

“Yes, all of it,” he said and smiled again. “Our whole world is an endless sacrifice. Since the first man stepped onto this land, died and bled into the earth, the sacrifice began and never ended.”

I felt my stomach churn. I was truly dealing with a mad man. Not that I thought much of him before but damn did it come as a slap to the face.

“Then we have nothing to talk about, Emperor.”

“You’re wrong, Frank Midnight. You know the truth about this world. You know what is to come for all of us.”

“I do, huh?” He remained silent causing me to become even itchier. I glanced at all the creatures surrounding us trying to gage whether or not I could take them all on together with the Emperor. Another “Hmm,” escaped me. Since the Quinta boss still sat there on his tiger-beast sizing me up and wasting my time, I continued,

“What? Esheytan? Is that what you’re talking about? The end of our world? I had this conversation already and it didn’t end well for the other guy.”

“We can threaten each other all day long, Frank Midnight. It doesn’t change what is to come.”

I sighed, shaking my big horned head.

“No,” I said. “You can’t change it.”

That should have at least chipped a bit at his planet-sized ego. Turned out I was way wrong.

“You’ve achieved great things on this world, but in the eye of the Universe, you are yet less than dust.”

“The fuck you’re talking about,” I said, trying to keep my nerves. I really wasn’t in the mood for philosophy. The roar of battle echoed across the city and with every second I spent chatting more people died. People I cared for.

“The gods you killed are no true gods, you know this. Don’t be obtuse, Frank Midnight. I know you’ve learnt the truth.”

“I learned shit. Speak plainly or prepare to fight. I’ve had enough.”

“Have they not spoken to you about their fear? About the great end of their despicable civilization?” I rubbed my chin, trying to remember the last few days. The gods, the demons, they all had plenty to say. Then it came to me suddenly,

“The Flesh Dominion? Is that what you’re talking about?”

He smiled again, his eyes lighting up.

“Yes, the true Gods. Not even the mighty Faydar could bring an end to them.”

“How do you know this?” I blurted out. “Nobody beside me ever entered Morgefah’s prison and lived to tell the tale.”

A symphony of explosions rocked the Temple District. I turned around to see more smoke billowing from the city. Orc warhorns blew across Sankta Varath and the cacophony of orcish roars sounded in the distance. The magic shields were already down, the Quinta, the First, and the Green Tide were locked in hand-to-hand combat. I clenched my fist, almost trembling with anticipation to get there, but the golden bastard opened too many questions.

“You and I, Frank Midnight, have used the Faydar technology against them. It was their mistake to first allow a system of unchallenged growth and then abandon us. We are the result of their unbridled arrogance. Is it not ironic that—”

“I don’t care if it is. You didn’t answer my question.” The Emperor’s tiger-beast roared as if insulted in its rider’s name. “How do you know this?”

“You’ve only acquired your demi-godship. There is a lot more these powers offer beside strength. I have spoken to God. The one true God.”

“The one true god,” I muttered. “You mean the Flesh Dominion? How? Why would you do that?”

“Because it is beautiful, Frank Midnight. In its domain a trillion souls exist in harmony. A great sea of existence in which all are equal and yet all are unique. Orc and human, and gnome, dwarf and even Faydar all side by side in eternal peace. This is what I fight for.”

“And the sacrifices? What is that all about?”

“This world needs to show it is ready for their coming. There must be no obstacles to God’s will. Frank, listen to me, the Universe is vast and lonely. Would you curse our kind to float through the darkness alone? And forever? Surely you have seen how little and fragile we are. The Faydar ruled a thousand stars and even they crumbled before God, but unlike them, we have to earn our place. We have to lay down the foundation for their coming. There must be no resistance, only acceptance.”

 I expected a lot of insane bullshit from the leader of the Quinta, a lot, really. Like a mountain of shit. But he somehow managed to top that. By a lot too. If this war wasn’t stupid enough as is, once I heard the underlying cause I felt like crying and laughing at the same time. So I did. I laughed loudly, roaring with my demonic voice and spilling hot, hissing tears onto the blood-soaked ground.

The Emperor’s men shifted uncomfortably looking at their master. How could he allow a filthy demon to laugh in his face? I knew they thought as much, but nobody was as offended as the very golden bastard in front of me.

“A shame,” he said wearily.

“So you talked to them somehow, eh?” I said, forcing myself to calm down. “And they didn’t want to come unless you killed a bunch of us first to show we’re worth it? Your Gods traverse the stars and destroy civilizations and you’ve had to plead with them to come here?”

“You had so much promise, Frank Midnight. Together we could—”

“Do what? Kill millions so some alien fucks who promised you immortality could eat the rest? Are you kidding me? Aren’t you like four-hundred years old? Have you learned nothing? Is that it? Is that why thousands out there are shoving swords into each other’s guts, you stupid fucking man?”

I guess my words were a bit too much even for the Quinta Emperor because he just nodded half-heartedly and his men closed in on me.

“It doesn’t matter, after all. You will die and so will Steelheart and all the other realms. You could have been part of something great, but you’ve wasted your gifts on this dirt.”

“I’m so going to kill you,” I said.

The Emperor shook his head in disappointment then raised a hand. I could hear the rustle of movement all around me. I tensed then pushed off to my right and speared forward.

Traitor and Mercy flashed in front of the Emperor’s shifting visage. He raised his own sword, parrying both blades. A burst of light erupted between the weapons and spread in all directions. I could feel his power ripple through my whole body. Our faces met inches away from each other and though his ever-changing flesh could hardly be read, his piercing green eyes told me all I needed to know. After four-hundred years of unquestioned power, a flicker of uncertainty had set into the great ruler of the Quinta.

I sprung away, readying myself for a follow up when a blast of energy hit me in the back followed by a roaring mass of Peta fanatics with their swords drawn. The giant golden monkeys were stampeding towards me as well, causing the ground to shake. I looked back at the Emeperor who was drawing light energy into his palm.

“Fuck,” I muttered clenching my teeth. This was too much. I couldn’t battle a demi-good and his retinue and the rest of his army all at once.

I (Rift Walked) up into the air and flapped my wings as the Order of Peta channeled their soul-sucking abilities at me. Meandering beams of light blue coiled around my body and I could feel them tugging at my strength. I flapped my wings again, escaping the bond and watched the scene below me.

“You can run, Frank Midnight,” The Emperor said into my mind. “But not forever, brother.”

I bit my lip, bloodying it again then (Rift Walked) back down to the ground and grabbed two Peta fanatics by the neck and (Rift Walked) up again. They helplessly tried to wrangle their way out of my grasp as I took to the skies and then finally dropped them. They screamed to their deaths, splattering before their master.

“Here’s your brothers, bitch.”

I turned my gaze to the battle in the streets.

“First I’ll kill your army, then your goons, and once you’re all alone with nothing but your stupid fucking fantasies, I’ll hang you in the middle of my city.”

I knew he could hear me but the wise master of the northern lands decided against gracing me with a reply. Fair enough. The message still stood.

I turned on my (Demon Skin) and (Morgefah’s Favor) then shot down into the thickest part of his golden army engaged with the First at the barricades.

I landed like a comet, killing a dozen and sending even more flying like bags of tenderized meat in all directions. With a flurry of my blades, I hacked through whoever dared to stand in my way. Heads and legs and arms and torsos split in half, raining blood on their comrades as they flew across the battlefield. I crushed skulls with my hands, dented armor, flesh and bone with my tail, and splattered soldiers beneath my demonic claws.

The First, invigorated by my arrival, stormed forward, white and gold armor clashing across the streets. Druids turned to bears, wolves and werewolves, mangling and tearing the invaders. Rogues moved like bladed shadows through Quinta ranks, hunters rained volleys onto the backlines and a small company of goblin barbarians shot forward, screaming insults as they swung their battleaxes into golden helmets.

 “First, I’ll kill your army!” I roared, bashing my knee into a soldier and turning his head into red mist. I slid Traitor into a large golden brawler, the sword crit causing the man to explode and sending flesh and bones in all directions.

A fireball washed over me, the flames incinerating both Quinta and First soldiers but leaving me unharmed. I (Rift Walked) to the caster, grabbed the staff from his hands as he stared at me with a terrified face, then bit his head off and spat it out. I stopped just then and so did everyone around me, suddenly aware of what I just did.

Before I could ponder my acts I roared again as I felt my bones crunch back into my human form. The fighters around me, even the most fanatical ones, spread out in fear. I cracked my neck seeing the terror in their eyes.

Then, for the first time since the battle started, I saw Quinta running back for safety as Steelheart warriors cheered.

Suddenly a volley of arrows from their own side killed the deserters. A large angry soldier of the Order of Peta advanced stomping through the dead bodies and beheading more of his own terrified, fleeing kind and chanting their mindless words. More came rushing forward behind him.

“I’ll kill your fucking goons!” I screamed, (Rift Walked) into the first of the zealots, and tackling him. The bastard was heavier than I thought, but he still ate Mercy to the face as it bore through his visor. A wailing of souls erupted from him and the frozen visages of his armor crumbled up. I heard a feint ‘thank you’ or I might have imagined it. Well, there was only one way to make sure as I narrowed my eyes on the next one.

The Emperor’s men charged onward still, rushing into the meatgrinder with fervor. Varathians died, Quinta died, and the very air of our city turned red. War horns blared as the Emperor continued his advance. I bashed my fist into the chin of the next bastard hearing the distinct crack of bones. He dropped lifelessly to his knees as I looked up at the five-pointed banners.

“I’ll hang you in my city!” I yelled and whether he could hear me or not, the promise stood.