((EDIT: Finished it. I can remove it if its not to your liking))
“Where am I?
Free me…
How did I get here?
Set me free…
I can’t remember anything except death and blood… All I can see is darkness, and nothing but…
Death…
Who’s there?
*laughter*
Show yourself!
Behind you…”
I turned to look and found a hooded figure standing before me. All I could see was his grin, as wide as his face. I couldn’t see his eyes, but his fiendish grin was unsettling enough.
“You’ve come to…
Who are you? Why am I here?
You’re somewhere better than Heaven, and yet, worse then Hell…
What do you mean?
This is your worst nightmare …”
Suddenly, the void began to reveal itself in the shape of a familiar structure in the distance. I could not tell what from so far away. All I could tell was it was dark, cold, and I was outside. The figure disappeared in more laughter. I can only hear his voices in my head.
“You’re going to die…
Your soul will nourish the master…
Your body will serve him…”
I rubbed my arms and noticed I was stripped of everything. No sword, no armor, and no clothes. I was alone in a field , in the dark, naked. I knew I had to find shelter, the sky, which I just saw now, wasn’t showing it was night time, but just dark. The sky was as grey as you can think of, and no sun shone through, but it was somewhere between the afternoon and dusk. And night was coming fast. I made my way towards the structure, reluctantly.
There was a river that ran on the way there, black as night. I took a handful and drank. I immediately felt sick and began to vomit. It felt like I puked up my innards, and I saw that I coughed up blood. I looked in the water and saw dead and decaying forumites in the water. Some, looked all too familiar, until I saw the face of Apiks and Nav pass by. Whats going on!?
I then felt a deep chill go down my spine as dark blue flames revealed a bridge across the river. It was solid, and appeared to show signs of ruin. In fact, as I stepped on it, I noticed half of the bridge walls were missing. The pale fires were on both sides, as if they were guiding me. Suddenly, snow began to fall, and I noticed dead trees and shrubs littered the landscape. I crossed the bridge and I heard the voices saying something else:
“I’m dead…
But I not dead! I’m right here!
But I was killed…”
I dropped to my knees and screamed. The voices grew too loud and too overbearing to control myself. I began to convulse and twist like a madman, as if I was possessed. It felt as if my entire innards were burning and my mind was about to explode. Then, I saw large black birds circling overhead. Were they crows? Ravens? Vultures? I could not tell. I managed to regain control after a bit (and after I think I vomited and urinated myself), and got myself back up, feeling pain throughout my entire body. I heard sounds of what sounded like howling, but it was too distorted to know it wasn’t anything ordinary. I hobbled closer to the structure, which looked more and more familiar as I got closer. The small tower; the gate with a bridge overtop a small pool… It was all too familiar. Every breath felt like something was ripping my lungs apart and then stabbing them with a thousand burning daggers. I was gasping for air now, covered in mud and vomit.
I was almost at the bridge when I swear I saw something move. It looked humanoid, but not normal. And then another passed me by, his skin as pale as snow, and almost decayed in appearance. A third came by when I saw that they were pale faced versions of my former friends. BFEL was the one I looked up to first, with Apik’s husband following in behind. The voices grew stronger and stronger as I walked towards the gate more, almost like they were screaming in my ears. Oh gods… I must be in Hell… No, that man said it was worse than hell. Is this somewhere in between heaven and hell? I can’t tell. I only see the pale faces pass me by as I scream in pain. Some of the figures even trample overtop of me, adding to the excruciating pain I felt already. I don’t know if anything broke, but I was too banged up to care. The snow was going down harder now, and I felt even colder than before. I managed to get through the pain and crawl across the bridge.
I noticed now that the tower was partially collapsed, as were the walls surrounding the gate. When I reached the gate, I heard the voice say one last thing before I threw myself over with whatever strength I had left:
“Welcome home…”
I vomited again, but most of the pain in my head went away. I could breathe a little easier, but it was still difficult. I felt every bruise from the pale faced fourmites now, and I think I broke a rib or two. I don’t know how long it took me to get here, but it felt like weeks, months or years even. I managed to get the strength to get back up, and I figured out now where I was…
I was home… Back in the first Necrothreat…
*In the Mind of Highmax pt II*
I coughed up more blood as I walked towards the original structure of Necrothreat. I wasn’t here when this section was built, but I remember it all too well. Then, I heard the voice again, but it wasn’t in my head.
“You’ve made it… Wonderful…”
I turned around and saw nothing. But then I looked up and saw that damned head staring right at me, grinning.
“You cannot go back now…”
The gate then sealed shut and the bridge up along with it.
“Your soul will be mine to feast on…
Choke on it! I’ll find a way up there and destroy you!
You cannot defeat me here… Not even Armok can control me here…”
I shuddered at his response. I then noticed that it started laughing, and then teleported away.
“Find me…”
I walked inside, despite I felt very weak and tired. There was soil and sand everywhere, just as I remembered. The stockpiles were empty, but that wasn’t what my issue was. I walked into what was the coffin room and saw that each of the coffins were dug up. Actually, the better term was they were dug OUT, as if something came up from the ground. Also, the writing on each headstone was different then before.
Here You Lie, Highmax
You died, You came back, and died again
You’ll serve us in time Highmax
Death awaits you, Highmax
It was very terrifying. Then, I turned and saw I was trapped, for the ceiling collapsed and blocked my way out of the room. I could do nothing but dig my way out. But without the tools, it was nearly impossible. I started to take handfuls of the sand out at a time, and then I began to work faster. I kept this up until I was exhausted. And the best part: it looked like I barely did anything. I gave myself some time to sit down and think. As I sat down, time passed, and I can’t tell if it was merely seconds or hours, but I felt my stomach rumble, and my lips felt really dry suddenly. It was as if I hadn’t eaten or drank in days, which I could’ve sworn it wasn’t that long. I got up and began to dig again, but making almost no progress once again. I needed something to dig through this sand pile. I looked at the dug up graves and looked into them. Armok damn me for exhuming, but I didn’t care, I needed to escape. I saw only pieces of bones and rotted clothing.
I looked at the graves and then one changed before my very eyes:
Getting Hungry, Highmax?
I paid no heed to it, but then my stomach let out this gurgling sound. Then my mouth felt like it was a desert, no water or moisture in it whatsoever. I began to have trouble breathing again, but my throat felt like it was scratching itself from the inside, and I coughed up more blood, wetting my mouth slightly.
“What the hell is going on?
Rightfully so…”
I coughed again, and then began to dig again and again, struggling with each heave. Then, I went up to the grave, kicked it down, and took a small piece and notched it into a long piece of bone. The grave said before I smashed it:
Hunger and Thirst Will Consume You
I used the crude shovel I made to dig at the sand mound more, and then it started to give way. Within seconds, the mound was gone, and I saw another grave, and a rusted sword was inside of it. I grabbed it, not before reading the inscription and coughing up more blood.
Here Lies Highmax, Sword’s Enthusiast
I was soaked in blood and sand now, on top of whatever else I had on me. I walked back outside and saw the snow had turned to a black rain. Thunder sounded and lightning filled the sky (which was now an even darker shade of grey). How long was I in that room? I didn’t know, but I didn’t feel hungry or thirsty anymore (I hope I wasn’t sustaining off my own blood).
I went down the stairs and descended past everything until I reached the bedrooms. Maybe I can get something to put on, and maybe find some equipment other than a rusty sword. I found my old room on the way and found nothing in it. I walked around a bit more and found a tomb that I did not recognize before. I walked in and saw the coffin change to a bloody spear, and the door turned into a wall. I was trapped now. The walls were all engraved, and they all showed horrifying images. Giants ripping apart fourmites, necrothreaders leading their armies to kill the living, and one image, of necrothreaders worshiping a head with an evil stare in his eyes. What was odd about this one was there appeared to be hands floating with it. I don’t recall our bane having hands at all. I then sat in the room for about five minutes before I began to see the pale faces again. They walked into the room and appeared to be working on something, but when I walked towards them, they disappeared. Then, the voices came back.
“Free me…
I’m so lonely…
Release me…”
And then, images burned into my mind. And when I mean burned, I mean it felt like my brain was on fire. I saw Necrothreat burning on the night it fell. I saw toady one’s corpse rise from the depths of his watery grave. I watched myself get swallowed by the werebeast. I watched as NAV died fighting. And I began to weep as I saw Apiks get slain by her own husband in undeath, only to rejoin him in death. I heard the clang of steel hitting stone, because I began to convulse again. I coughed up blood and vomit again, and one convulsion caused the sword to cut into my arm, spreading my blood all across the floor. I was screaming in pain, in sadness and in agony now.
I don’t know exactly what happened next. All I knew was I got up, and next thing I know, I felt every part of my body burning, and I screamed to Armok to make it stop. I then felt blood flow from my stomach, and when the voices and the burning in my head went away, the pain in my chest of the spear through my heart came. Its tip changed to a double hook, both facing me. I can’t get out now, and I’m dying. I can feel it. Blood coated the room with vomit, and I was covered in blood and slashes everywhere. Then I screamed in pain again. But no matter how much blood I lost, I would not die. I felt the extreme pain, but I would not die or pass out from it. Why?
I only heard voices again, but it was laughing this time. Then, the head came from the image on the wall.
“You cannot escape…”
It disappeared again and I began to try and free myself. Blood flowed out as I tried to pull myself off, but the hooks stopped me. I tried to break the wooden shaft, but it wouldn’t budge. All I could do was sit there. Then, the floor shifted, and I found myself floating. Actually, the correct term was hanging, for I was still on the spear, but hanging off of the ruined tower. The rain against my exposed wounds brought extreme pain, and then the hunger and thirst returned. Then, the voices came. I screamed for it to all end. I screamed for help. And then I screamed for Armok to help me. The last one mustve been answered, because then I was back in the void, but hurt still. I then saw a blade floating before me. I had to reach it to grab it, but it was difficult because the hook spear was still in my heart. I pulled myself towards it until the hooks began to sink into my flesh. I grabbed the sword which glowed blue like adamantine, even though it looked like simple iron.
Then I saw the head again, but I wasn’t hanging. And I felt a great surge of strength, and my wounds felt healed. And I was washed and clothed. The head had a look of pure hate on it, and it let out a cry that sounded like a thousand banshees screaming. I then walked towards it, shielding myself, blade in hand. The sounds were driving me mad, but the sword made me feel different; it was as if it was a holy relic I needed to have to break free from the madness and pain. I then stabbed the head, following through with a slash, splitting the head in half. Its face turned to one of shock. Then, it began to release a large amount of blood, which appeared to move. The head dropped to the floor and the blood began to take a real form: one of a fourmite.
I readied the blade and saw that grinning figure again before me. He drew a sword, similar to mine but it glowed black. And then we clashed blades. Every single blow I swung was blocked with equal grace and speed. It was as if he was my equal in every way. As if he knew every tactic I had. Then, we locked swords and he spoke to me.
“Your god may have helped you, but you cannot defeat me in my own realm!”
He laughed insanely and pulled a second blade out. He was quick with them, but I was skilled with using a single blade, shield or no shield. I managed to lock blades again and I kicked him in the stomach and slashed at his face. He pasued as blood splattered everywhere. He dropped one of his swords and put his hand to his face. Then, he laughed, blood pouring out of his hand. His hood was thrown back, revealing his true identity: He was a zombified version of me.
I slashed at him again, but he blocked it with ease. Now I know why he was my equal with one sword; he was me in every way possible. I knew to beat him, I had to change tactics. I started by charging towards him, and picking up the sword he dropped. I blocked his counterattack with one and slashed him with the other blade. The black aura sword passed through him though, but it blocked his blade. I then took the black blade after stepping back a bit and threw it at him, and then knocking him against the wall of our “arena” and impaling him into the wall with the blue sword through his chest. I twisted the blade as blood gushed from the wound, and the zombified me just laughed more and more. I then ripped the blade out and slashed his head off in a clean stroke. I then proceeded to crush the head with my foot as the body laid down to sleep in a pool of blood. Then, everything began to warp, as if reality itself was changing. The blood disappeared and the walls changed shape, but I still stayed in my clothes and the zombified version of me stayed dead. I dropped to my knees as my head wouldn’t stop spinning. Then, I dropped the sword, now a dull, basic blade, and put my head in my hands. My head wouldn’t stop spinning, but everything felt so much clearer; as if I just purged something deep within myself. Then, I felt a hand on my back as I heard a familiar voice speak to me:
“Highmax, is that you?”
I turned and my eyes met an old friend of mine: Apiks. I wept with tears of joy and couldn’t stop saying “Its over…”. Apiks thought I was mad and sent me to the hospital ward for a checkup. I was back in Necrothreat II, but anywhere was better then home… I never want to go back there again…
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Topic: Necrothreat II - A Fort Cursed by the Gods! (Read 444006 times)