Return to Jorgaldur Volume IV: Reunion

Strange enemy (I)

A Light Arrow pierced the powerful being that was approaching. It made a hole in him, purifying him, but it soon closed. The arrow wasn't powerful enough for more than a slight wound.

The elf didn't expect to kill or seriously injure him, but rather she wanted to check if he was what he seemed. This was demonstrated by the attack. He was an incorporeal being, some evolution of the specters. Although, unlike them, his features were clearly defined.

If it weren't for the fact that he was slightly translucent, and because he floated, he could have passed for a normal person. Even his clothes looked immaculate, those of an officer of an army whose existence had been lost in the passage of time.

Inexplicably, he smiled when the arrow pierced him, as if the purifying effect had been a massage for him. The smile gave them chills, because at the distance at which they were, everyone could see it.

They prepared to face that strange specter, of whom the other undead seemed to be afraid.

Goldmi was Holding Light Arrows, in addition to move right behind a Light Abyss. She regretted that her connection with nature was so weak there, as the vegetation was rather sparse, and seemed ill.

Gjaki and Eldi wielded weapons of light, and had set their own traps. Furthermore, the battle mage had renewed the blessings.

The lynx was next to her sister, ready to take action at any moment.

The goshawk watched attentively from the sky.

They expected their enemy's attack at any moment, but instead of occurring, he stopped on one of the Light Walls. He stayed in it, absorbing the purifying power, which was quite strange. It was evident that it was harming him, but even so he didn't move from the spot.

"Ha, ha, ha! This's it! More! I want more!" he laughed with a strange and chilling voice.

The specter turned to them. He stared at Gjaki, then at Eldi. Finally, he turned to Goldmi.

"You! Give me more! Stronger! You have the power!" he demanded.

He floated towards her while saying it, but Gjaki and Eldi got in his way. Although physical bodies couldn't stop him, their Auras were enough to block him. Additionally, they had spells to stop him if necessary.

"What do you want?" Eldi demanded.

He was a powerful enemy that they didn't know if they could defeat. Although the companions believed they could contain him, killing him was another issue. He could easily retreat whenever he wanted, and who knows if he could make use of the undead horde. It was preferable if they could get rid of him some other way, if they could drive him away.

"What do I want? Ha, ha. What else could I want? Death. I want to die!" that entity answered, while looking at them voraciously.

"If it's just that, come closer, I'll kill you," the vampiress offered, suspicious.

"You can't. She can. Your magic could perhaps harm me, but my essence is eternal. Only she can. I just need her power a little bit stronger. Aaaaaargh!! Give me your lives!!" he suddenly shouted.

As if he had had in a fit of madness, his jaw opened as it couldn't be, which revealed his empty, open mouth. The outline of his teeth was there, but his throat was gone. He tried to lunge at the elf, but a Light Blast got in his way. The high human had already tested that electricity had a certain effect on the specters.

Gjaki Grabbed him with her light whip, which immobilized him for a few moments. However, the whip was dissipating as it fought against the power of the specter.

Goldmi released ten Light Arrows, which pierced the specter, and continued on their way to stab some zombies that were approaching. They had lost some power along the way, but still managed to completely purify one of them.

The specter's attack didn't persist. He didn't seem too damaged, but he retreated a few meters, under the menacing gaze of the group.

"Sorry, Sorry. It's not easy to control my instincts. You living people are too appetizing," he apologized.

"Really, what do you want?" the vampiress asked, suspicious.

"Aaaah. The living don't understand. Those without minds don't care. But we, those of us who've regained consciousness... It's hell... Remembering life but being dead. Not feeling anything. Not cold. No heat. Nor hunger. Just loneliness. There's no company here other than all these brainless things. And the others... Aah... The others... We hate each other. We want to consume each other. We want to kill each other. But we can't. We form again. We don't want more. We want to die. Aah... You're so appetizing..." the specter explained.

"Others? Are there others like you?" Goldmi was interested.

"Like me not. But yes. They think. But less. They can't control themselves that much. That's why they don't come close. They're leaving you to me. If they get close, they would attack. They don't want to die now. Now that they have a chance to die. If they die, they would come out again. And you wouldn't be there. Can't you be a little stronger? I want to die," he repeated.

The three looked at each other. Precisely, they had gone there to level up, to become stronger. Nonetheless, they weren't convinced that they could trust that being. That strange undead could attack them at any moment.

The elf shrugged her shoulders, saying that there was no harm in trying. Gjaki looked at Eldi.

"It's your turn," she assigned him the job with a mischievous smile.

He sighed, but didn't argue. In fact, it was his turn.

"She can be stronger, but we need time. We need to purify as many undead as possible, and at the highest level possible. This way, we'll become stronger, and her power will be stronger too," he explained.

"Aah... It's not fair! They may die sooner! They can rest! Okay, I'll bring them. You better not lie. If you lie, nothing good will come of it," he threatened.

"Don't let them enter the cave. If not, it'll be more difficult for us to be here. We'll retire inside to rest," Goldmi informed.

"Ah... Rest... Being tired... If I could feel that again... Good. They won't enter. But get stronger. You have to kill me, or I'll kill you," he asked and threatened in the same sentence.

After those words, he left the way he had come, although first, he cast a strange spell.

The three companions defended themselves, alert, but they weren't affected. Only a weak aura remained at the entrance of the cave, which they didn't know whether to purify or not. After some tests, they discovered that the undead didn't pass through it. Without a doubt, it was very convenient.