//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 - Griffin Fiefdoms // Story: Rage Unbound // by Bazing //------------------------------// Our march up to the executioners’ block was painfully slow, every moment drew closer to our deaths, every step another assurance. Dave led the group with a flat face, not expressing any emotion, however if one looked closely his body would betray him. He shook slightly, and when stepping forward they were filled with hesitation. Tensions were high as the four “prisoners” made their way to the stairs before the guards stopped them. They singled Dave to continue while the rest of us waited.   It’s now or never. I thought quickly, looking and counting the griffins around us. Two guards either side, our ‘Baron’, one executioner on the platform, four guards in front. All the immediate threats... I lean over to Alex and whisper: “Take the right and the executioner on my go.” I see Alex nod ever so slightly in acknowledgement, already to my assumption having surveyed the area he made no noise or motion otherwise. I watched Dave slowly, agonisingly slowly, make his way up the stairs and kneel at the executioner's block.   “Now.” I say, not loud but enough for Alex, Trevor and the guards around to hear. I pull my hands apart and easily shatter the weak chains binding the cuffs together and hear Alex do the same. I turned quickly to my left and looked at the guard standing next to Trevor, his shocked expression made me smile as I shattered my chains and grasped his spear. Pushing Trevor forward with my other hand I kick the griffin in the side of his head as hard as I can. I hear bones crack and snap as he goes flying into the front of a building. My strong grip let me keep hold of the spear but apparently so did his, as the spear was broken at the handle where he was holding it. Not minding the fracture, I turned around quickly to the guard behind me, seeing his very shocked face before it was impaled by the broken spear I was holding. Moving quickly toward him, I took the spear in his own possession before turning around again and throwing it with all my might at the similarly stunned Baron. However his survival instincts rung aloud for him to dodge, but not before it slashed open his right cheek.     Alex’s POV   Julian snapped to action in milliseconds, the snapping of our chains beginning our retaliation. As Jules grabbed his opponent's weapon, I bolted towards the executioner to save Dave-o. With everyone dazed and confused at the sudden fight, I, for the first time in my life, double flying kicked the executioner in the face. I will not lie about how much fun I had doing that. But enough nerding out, time to be serious. "G'day, a little bird told me you needed saving." I said smirking at my new prison buddy as I lifted him from the chopping block. "Alex..." Said Dave in a tone that shined hope. "Stop right the-" Yelled the guards from beside Trevor, before also being fly-kicked right in the beak. "Trying to have a conversation here you rude prick." I said after getting up off the ground and dusting my shoulder off. I grabbed its spear and slammed it so hard into the platform it broke through the wood, and in doing so shocked the surrounding guards. Taking that advantage of surprise, I pulled the spear towards myself before throwing the handle-end right back into the guards’ face, the sheer impact knocking them right out. Relinquishing the griffins of their weapons, I rip them from the ground and run back towards Trevor and David, and free them of their bonds. Finished with my duty that Julian gave me, I look back towards my brother and see he’s slashed the Baron's cheek. Perfect. Now everyone can see what he’s become.     Julian’s POV   The Baron grasped his heavily bleeding cheek and mouth, the claw holding it quickly being smothered in blood as well. It dripped onto the wooden platform, and before long the wood began to rot, as if it had aged its entire lifespan within seconds. Confusion and fear began to grow within the crowd before us. I sprinted up to him while he tried to stop the bleeding. He brought a claw up to stop me, but he was too slow and unprepared, and I broke his defence easily. I grabbed him by the neck and held him for the crowd to see. His struggling was weak at best, his demonic strength most likely blocked by his mortal disguise. I didn’t notice but Alex also followed up the stairs, after freeing Dave and Trevor as well and taking out the other guards in front. “Do you not see?! His blood is contaminated! Tainted! It rots and kills the living! That is not your Baron! Your beloved Hero! It is an imposter! A fake! To deceive you into killing us because we discovered his real identity! He is a demon sent from the depths of hell itself to prepare for an invasion of this world!” Many of the crowd gasped loudly, either believing because of open mindedness or just being gullible, I sounded like a doomsayer or something. Oh god is that what I’ve become, have I become that cliché?! I laughed at myself for a moment before returning to the situation at hand. “How can we believe something like that?! That sounds ridiculous! You’re the ones who're trying to deceive us! Accept your fate to die already!” Shouted a random griffin from the middle of the crowd, I can’t really tell them apart they all look the same to me, that being said I’ve spent hardly any time around griffins so that will probably change with time. I laughed slightly at myself again.   “Well the proof is right on these planks, but if you need more evidence then I am more than willing to provide!” I grabbed the ‘Baron’ and held him from behind, walking up to the executioners block I signalled for Alex to grab the Executioner's Axe. Trevor and Dave stood by us, with weapons they picked up off the guards, while we executed the Baron. It was a bloody and loud affair, he wouldn’t stop screaming until the end, like a little girl. The crowd protested, but the evidence in front of them compelled most to simply watch. Many guards are also just standing there in bewilderment. I threw the body aside as I waited for the Demon to come forth, and soon it started. The skin started to boil and peel away revealing the bleeding muscles as they were being torn apart, as if something were trying to push its way out from the inside. Suddenly, a massive figure burst out of the Baron with a devastating and ferocious roar.   “Oh… gggggreat.” I said slowly as I looked up toward the massive Demon, he looked like the typical Demon Raider: dark red skin with a plate covering its hands, shoulders, head, waist and legs. It wielded a massive mace in its right hand, the weapon almost as big as me. However, unlike the typical Demon Raider, this one also held a massive sword in its other hand, making for a deadly combination.   It’s mocking laughter filled the air as it rose from the corpse of its disguise, “Well you’ve certainly done it now.” His laughter continued to echo, and seemingly on cue Demons filled the courtyard we were in, either appearing in the crowd from their disguises, bursting out of nearby houses or appearing out of portals. There were many, numbering in the hundreds. “I am known as The Crusher! You will fear me like all the rest!” He shouted as he stepped forward.   I looked to Alex with the axe in hand, and the small army of Demons coming forth. I decided in that moment on what to do. “Alex, you need to take Crusher over here, I’ll hold off his army, stop them from rampaging and killing too many.” He looked like he wanted to say something but a moment later I convinced him this was the right course. My war gear appeared along with my companions like lightning. “Trevor, Dave. I need you two to assist me in defending the people. Gather them inside the largest building and barricade yourselves inside. I’ll send my wolf, ferrets and bat with you to assist. Trust me, they’re capable.”   The two were hesitant but they agreed. I summoned three sentry turrets in a triangle around the crowd gathered to watch us die, and from the top of the platform I rained arrows down on the Demons. My crow covered for my own defences while my boar was on the ground protecting the griffins, trampling them over, one by one.     Alex’s POV   "I am known as The Crusher! You will fear me like all the rest!” Bellowed the grand demon before us, his minions popping out of nowhere one by one like daisies. Julian told me to take the guy in front of me while he handled the army that was growing higher in number, and I agreed with him... But there was one thing bothering me more.... "Seriously? The Crusher? That’s what you went for?" I asked the big red monster in front of me with the biggest disappointed look on my face. "What happened, did you fail bad guy 101?" "You dare mock me?!" Snarled the massive demon, his eyes becoming redder than his own skin. "Oh noooo nononono." I said quickly but most insincerely. This was made evident one second later by my giving off a large, loud snort. "Yeah." Safe to say he did not appreciate that.  Crusher bolted towards me in a rage, readying his mace with a mighty swing. Not missing a beat, Crusher swung his weapon down upon me, making a crater the size of a basketball backboard. I dodged easily, however the debris flew everywhere and shards of stone grazed across my face and arms, creating small cuts and lesions. Quickly regaining my composure, I split my spear in half and threw away the bottom half of the pole. I’m no idiot, one tiny arse pole isn’t going to do anything against two weapons the size of my goddamn torso. If I turn it into a makeshift sword, I at least have speed and mobility on my side. I use it to my advantage immediately going on the offence. With his weapon in the ground, I circle around Crusher and proceed to slash his left arm three times, all of varying depths before he turned towards me, swinging his mace once more. "Is doing infinitesimal damage and running away all you can do?" Taunted Crusher as he watched me back away from him a second time. However, growing up where I did, you learn to make some great witty remarks. "Is chattin' a bunch of shite all you’re good at? For someone called The Crusher, you aren’t doing a very good job right now." I said taunting him back. "Killing you will be joyous." He growled deeply, his eye twitching from my snarky remarks. "Killing you will be a great excuse to have an expensive meal." I say finally, readying myself to attack once more. I thought to myself, I have to get rid of at least one of those weapons. Having both loom over me is a bit too close for comfort, but what do I do? As I strafe step by step, never letting the demon leave my sight, I think frantically about how I can remove such a large weapon from his grip. That’s when I remembered, no matter how big you are, you need just to remove one thing to make your hand useless. It's very reckless, but this guy seems too confident in killing me. Let’s see if I can’t use that against him. I leaped forward to my enemy, running straight towards him. Crusher readies both of his gargantuan weapons, either one prepared to move in any direction. "You believe a frontal assault will do you any good?!" Screamed Crusher as he brought down his blade and mace. Closer and closer they came down towards me, but as they reached almost two thirds of the way to the ground, I turned my feet sideways and made a mad dash to my right. I escaped, but my calf suffered some damage, the last edge of the blade had nicked my leg. Ignoring my own injury, I did a complete 180 and stabbed my spear end into Crusher's wrist. He reeled back from the pain and let go of his weapon. Stage one complete. Not letting go of my own, I’m flying around from Crusher trying to rip out the blade from his wrist. I pull myself to my weapon despite this and manage to grab on to the other end. With a mighty twist and pull, the mighty Crusher's left hand fell to the ground with a soft thud. Crusher roared in a mixture of rage and pain, "YOU MAGGOT! HOW DARE YOU!!" I staggered in getting up, exhaustion beginning to sweep over me. "Ready to go home yet?" I asked him, really wanting this to be over as soon as possible. Crusher had other plans however as he belted out another blood freezing roar. "Tch, I’ll take that as a no."     Trevor’s POV   Dave and I are nothing but simple soldiers, we followed our orders to the letter without question. We aren’t meant to be fighting Demons! Regardless, we did what we were told, even if Julian wasn’t our formal superior. Although in this instance he was our superior, his knowledge of Demons far surpassed anything either of us have seen or heard, even in damned fairytales.   Dave and I ran around as many houses we could and gathered everyone in the town hall, it was large enough to fit the entire town for special occasions. With the help of some guards who weren’t Demons, we secured the entrances and exits. The animal...things...that Julian lent us have proved to be very helpful in taking down Demons, we even managed to take down a few ourselves!   After we were secure in the town hall things only went from bad to worse. Loud roars and banging could be heard from the main double-doors, and from the back single-door. They were the only entrances other than windows, luckily, we managed to get them all boarded up thanks to a few of the civilians. But it did not do much, soon the glass shattered and the barricades on the windows were being pounded on. Our people were screaming in fear, all of them huddled in the back corner, various guards doing what they can to keep alert and prepared.   That was when all hell truly broke loose. One of the citizens started laughing like a maniac, before his disguise was shed. Flesh, skin, bone, muscle and blood burst in every direction and where previously stood a female griffin there stood a tall red figure with a mace in hand. Its wicked eyes glared full of hate and bloodlust before roaring as loud as it could. Panic among the survivors spread like wildfire, everyone ran everywhere and screamed bloody murder, and honestly, I couldn’t blame them for doing so.   It swung its mace at a nearby guard, however he was thrown off balance as the bat Julian sent dove for its eyes, and the wolf for its legs. Together they stunned the Demon long enough for Dave to drive forward with his spear and pierce the Demon’s hide. It roared in rage but not quite dead, the ferrets ran up its legs and went for its throat. I circled around his back and stabbed it from behind, again and again until it died. A by now well practiced routine as they cleared their way through the town.   Then, as the Demon fell, so did the barricades on two of the windows.     Julian’s POV   The army of Demons was thinning, at first there seemed to be an endless horde, and unfortunately there were losses. They kept streaming from nearby alleys, roads and houses, like half the town had been taken over. However now there were visibly less, and it eased my heart, knowing it was drawing to a close.   My mind returned to the battle, a Demon ran toward me in an attempt to take me out while my mind wondered, but he was too ambitious. The crow dived for its face, stunning it long enough for me to put an arrow between its eyes. I surveyed the crowd, they hadn’t moved since the entire ordeal began. They knew it was the safest place, since running only made them a target, especially since they were surrounded. At the start fear caused one griffin to try and fly away but he was quickly killed in a brutal manner. A Demon leaped over the crowd and beat him out the sky, my turrets were quick to kill him, however the griffin had already landed in the surrounded Demons and he was torn apart. None dared move after that.   The turrets supported by the exploding missile rune did a very effective job of keeping the Demons at bay, along with the boar who kept their attention on him, and the spider who kept them from getting too close. It was a deadly combination, and unlike in the game, the spider was free to use its web, weaving traps around the area and incapacitating any who got too close, allowing the turrets plenty of time to finish them off. With myself on overwatch it proved an effective defence. Although I had to turn around to defend myself every now and then but with the aid of my crow I was adequately defended as well. There were a few guards who weren’t Demons assisting in the defence as well, however compared to the might of my companions and my turrets it was minor.   Just as I took a shot and killed another Demon, Alex flew past me and crashed into the floor, covered in cuts and bruises. Following him was Crusher, looking not much different, except however missing his left hand. He did it, he managed to gain an upper hand on Crusher, literally. I go to congratulate my brother, but he’s passed out completely. Panicking, I aimed at Crusher and took my shots. Enhanced with my magic they exploded on impact. Six shots hit his chest and another three hit his face. He roared in pain and anger as he was thrown back as well. Satisfied that I gave Alex enough time to recover I turned back to the crowd to continue my defence.   “Alex! That weapon you have is useless! Take his sword!” I shouted to him before I returned my full focus on the battle in front of me.   However, something else drew my attention once more. My wolf alerted me to the danger the griffins trapped in the Town Hall were facing, so I rushed to their position. On my way killing as many Demons as I could, dodging their strikes while countering with an arrow to the head. Live combat has certainly improved my skills, but it scares me how well I can fight so easily. A thought for later. I reached the town hall to see multiple windows broken in and a dozen Demons trying to break down the others and the doors.   I drew upon my magic to empower my arrows to shoot forth a unique skill I had been practicing, a mix of [multi-shot] and [grenades], my [multi-explosive shot], turned a single arrow tipped with a small grenade into many covering a large cone. The arc was wide enough to cover the front of the building, the mini grenades adding a deadly explosion to the mix decimating the Demons gathered at the front door. Luckily the explosion blew in the front door, impacting on a Demon who was about to take a swing on Dave, stunning him long enough for Dave to retaliate and drive his spear into his throat, killing the Demon.   Ignoring the inside of the town hall, I ran along the side clearing the Demons who were too preoccupied with breaking down the windows and the backdoor. After clearing the outside, I leapt through a broken window, but the inside was clear. There were a few griffin corpses on the floor, some guards and civilians. I spotted Trevor and Dave much to my relief, I’ve grown to like these two.   I made my way over to them, “Good to see you’re still alive.” I held my fist out in front of me.   “Thanks, you too. It’s been a bit rough but the animals you lent us have been really helpful.” Dave responded calmly, panting from the exhaustion as he returned the fist/claw bump, Trevor giving one in kind. Both Trevor and Dave had multiple wounds on them, however they were minor.   “Great, glad to know. The battle seems to be dying down so I don’t think there will be many Demons coming your way but keep alert just in case. I’ll leave my companions here, but I need to get back to that crowd and thin out the rest of them. Good luck fellas.” I gave them a nod and made my way back.     Alex’s POV Ugh, now I know what it’s like to be yeeted. I think to myself as lay in the ground from my impact.   "Alex! The weapon you have is useless! Take his sword!" Screamed Julian as he fended off Crusher from me. I know he’s right but it’s easier said than done little brother, how the hell am I meant to move that thing? Nonetheless I try my best, I grab the handle and tempt to lift it off the ground, but I simply can’t. Thing weighs like three cars, three SUVs for that matter! "Filthy mongrels, all you do is resist the inevitable!" Bellowed the Crusher as he sprinted towards me. I’m too tired, I can’t move. Crusher tackles me and rushes through building after building in hopes to kill me. After about the tenth wall I’ve gone through, Crusher grabs me by the leg, whips me around and flings me into another building. It is at moments like this where I wish I was better at healing myself, but even then, I don’t know if I could do it under this kind of pressure.  "Get inside your rooms!" Yelled a female voice from beside me. I barely managed to look, and I saw a female griffin trying to usher her children away from the destroyed wall I came from, but her children were too terrified to move. "Mama!!" They kept wailing, tears rolling down like rivers. "Stay there and hide! Don’t come out!" Screamed the mother as she finally managed to shut the door in front of her kids and then proceed to lock it. "Hiding will do you no good at all." Taunted a very familiar, dark voice. From the wall appeared Crusher with a large menacing grin on his face. I tried to get up, but it was too late for me to notice that his sword was laying across my body, I can’t move. Crusher looked at my situation and laughed. "You wished to be the hero, to stop us from ruling this pathetic world. Now you sit there and watch as you fail these griffins you have fought so desperately to save." "Stay away from them! They’re innocent!" I snarled, trying my best to burst a blood vessel in an attempt to lift the sword. "You honestly think that matters to me?" Laughed Crusher as he continued his way towards the griffin mother who had backed herself into a corner. I hear the kids bashing their door with such ferocity that I fear it’ll break. The massive demon just kept on laughing as he got closer, drool falling from his lips. No! I’m not gonna let this happen! I’ve already lost everything! The war first took my mother, then my brother, and then every single one of my friends! I am not going to let it happen to anyone else EVER AGAIN!! With those thoughts of my family running through my head, something sparked inside me. All I could feel was power, unimaginable power. With renewed vigour, I belt a roar of my own, and the sword moves. The Crusher turns from his prey to witness what’s going on, but he only got about five seconds before I thrust the blade towards his head. He dodged, but with his balance and focus taken away from him, I returned the favour from a few minutes ago and proceed to push him through multiple more housings with just a single arm. All you could hear was the yelling from the both us, both determined to see this end now. Ending up back in the plain we started this fight, Crusher and I forget our weapons and just turn this into a primal slugfest. It was as if all logic and strategies had left our minds and were replaced by a simple instinct to fight, kill, and survive. I don’t even know how long we were at it for, it could’ve been hours, but none of that mattered, all that did was winning by any and all means necessary. A number of times I had Crusher claw at my chest so deeply you could’ve seen my own ribcage and even bite into my neckline to try and kill me. Yet, I didn’t. I still stood, and I still fought. With the last of the strength I had, I laid a barrage of punches and kicks into Crusher's face and legs. So long as I can take out his legs, I’ll get the upper hand. Kick, punch, punch, kick, repeat. I honestly thought I was doing nothing, but my final kicks were my best ones. With an almighty crack, my foot planted into Crusher’s knee, and snapped it backwards. Crusher screamed in pain as he was forced to kneel before me. We both pant so heavily you could swear we were about to pass out. I draw the blade I had laid across my back and point the tip right at Crusher's throat. "Do you yield?" I ask him with eyes cold as stone.     Julian’s POV I quickly ran back towards the crowd of griffins I left, clearing out any Demon I saw along the way. The horde had definitely thinned so hopefully it would be over soon. I was soon back defending the group of griffins, the horde relentless in their assault. It was not long after I got back that Crusher came crashing through a nearby building and into the open area they were previously fighting in.  Alex was in hot pursuit, but something was different. Is Alex… taller? Are those… MUSCLES?! ALEX IS MACHO?! I watched in amazement as they duelled, a flurry of blows exchanged by both sides. However Alex had a clear advantage: His Nephalem powers have exploded, I don’t know if he even noticed the change at the time, but his healing gave him the edge he needed. The battle lasted a few minutes, most of the remaining Demons stopped fighting to watch the spectacle before them. None had known a creature among them to be capable of fighting toe-to-toe with The Crusher. I had my animal companions silently corral the remaining Demons without causing a fuss, most were too preoccupied and those that resisted were killed or webbed. I witnessed the end of the fight as Alex delivered his crushing knee blow forcing the Demon to the ground in agony. He drew his blade across the Demons neck, “Do you yield”, he said. The Demon refused at first but was incapable of fighting back, so I decided on something. I quickly ran over to Alex and whispered in his ear. He looked at me and nodded before making his way over to the crowd of Demons that had surrendered after their leader was defeated.  I looked to Crusher, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. Can’t risk you being sent back to Hell with vital intel. So I’ll keep you alive until I get what I need, and believe me, I WILL get what I need.” I stood before the kneeling Demon before drawing an arrow from my quiver.  “What are you doing here? What’s your plan?” I held the arrow tip to his throat as I closed in to look it in the eyes. “Don’t lie, I’ll know if you’re lying.” The Demons’ eyes went wide as I drew closer, it could see properly what my armour was made of. I could see its fear, and the irony made me laugh, then made me angry. “You know what this is made of don’t you? Your kin, your fellow Demons.” I laughed before continuing, “That’s right, I slaughtered countless Demons until I had the materials required to craft this armour, looks quite intimidating don’t you think? I’d say it works, strikes fear into your heart, like how you do with any living creature your Hell brings. You massacre countless innocents for fun, like how your kind destroyed my village and my family, I will destroy every Demon that threatens this plane. Go back to hell where you belong.” I spat on the ground by its knees. “I… have no plan. I… did not want to kill those griffins.” The demon said weakly as it lowered its head. I was shocked into silence, then the resentment grew, the hatred. “What…? What did you just say?”  Crusher raised its head and looked me in the eye, “I fled Hell with my followers, we fled the Eternal War, sick of all the fighting and dying. Dying, dying, dying, so many times over and over it’s maddening. We fled the war and took refuge here, hoping that no one would find us, didn’t take long though for you to show up.”  I knew it wasn’t lying, my powers made sure of that but even more, I knew it in my gut. “So… why did you kill them?” I asked confused, but it didn’t take long for me to realise.  “We had no choice, after you turned up and exposed us, did you really think we had any other option but to kill them all and try again somewhere else? Most of us don’t have much fight left in us” That’s why it was so easy, normally there’s no way we would have been able to save all those griffins, but they didn’t actually want to do this. No that’s insane, a trick, he must be lying. But I know he’s not. Fuck this is infuriating. It’s easier to hate all Demons when you believe them all to be the same murderous monsters… I looked at the kneeling Demon before me, his head lowered, blood dripping from various wounds on his body. I turned my head and saw Alex keeping the remaining Demons in check along with my animal companions “What should I do…?” I whispered quietly to myself, I turned to face Crusher and he raised his head to meet me. What should I do?