CREATURE OF DARKNESS

"This forest has been poisoned." Dolores concluded. "Tell the others!"

Just as they were about to make their way to Fort-End, suddenly a vine shot out in the distance, tugging at Dolores' wheelchair and knocking the gnome to the ground. Revan wanted to help, but he was told to go first. There was only a worried look, trapped in a transparent membrane, looking at Dolores sitting on a dead leaf.

They realized it too late. Something had entered into this forest that no longer had any protection. Looking back, the long twitching tendril that wrapped around Dolores' wheelchair weren't some kind of plant, or the tentacles of an octopus. The ends were pointed, like spider legs, but so flexible they could stretch for ten meters.

Dolores' eyes widened. In this gloomy darkness, he knew there were eyes watching him too, ready to strike whenever he was caught off guard. The gnome's wide ears found the atmosphere of the forest so quiet, unlike the usual Nekros. The forest animals may have fled because of the evil of this creature. A creature that carries deadly poison.

The long tendril pierced the night shadows, headed straight for Dolores. His right hand stands in front of him, opening a shield of light that deflects stabs, tails, or whatever coming from his enemy. The gnome tore the darkness of the forest with his magic. White sheen fluttered like angel wings, piercing every evil spell that tried to resist.

"Get out of my forest, Creatures of darkness!"

Dolores was crawling while pointing at the holy light he had learned from the eastern Fos temple. No one dared to approach. Everyone runs. However, he still sensed the presence of evil creature around him. Nekros is too dark, too wide to play hide and seek with a beast. Dolores knew these were not favorable conditions.

"Say your name!" His voice was high, heavy and sinister. It almost sounded like a giant voice. "Your darkness disgusts me!"

An indistinct echo suddenly scattered around Dolores. A low whisper, hard to hear, as if dancing through the forest. Feeling unwelcome, Dolores developed his light magic more and more, until he heard a sharp shriek. The creature that was watching him had been found.

"Speak!" shout Dolores with emotion.

"You're going to die," he said in a dry, heavy voice. A soulless voice, Dolores thought. "Those travelers will die. The thrones of the Lords will die. Nefertyland will die."

Dolores noticed the creature was slipping from tree to tree, trying to get as close to it as possible. No matter how close he was, he couldn't fight the glare of the light magic.

"Who is your master?" The gnome questioned again.

"He who is the strongest. The most powerful. The slanderer. The mother of darkness. Vir Grehka!"

Instantly the tree near Dolores fell, squeezing the gnome's body until he screamed in pain and its light magic dimmed. The creature sped up to him, almost reaching Dolores with a sharp vine, if he hadn't had time to throw light into the darkness.

"Lucifer's orders!" cursed Dolores. "How despicable and dirty you are!"

"My lord will visit the mountains of dwarves, the cities of men, their burrows. No one can escape. No one!"

The darkness of the forest was getting thicker. A gray mist crawled through the damp air fiercely. Dolores' light magic persists, but the evil influence has plagued Nekros even more. At this rate, the mysterious creature would pounce on him in a split second.

"You pushed me too far, You lowly creature!" The gnome's left hand glowed blue. A gleaming sword sprouted from his palm. "Finish your task, Lux Bellator!"

Dolores threw his sword forward, that second was greeted by a gallant knight, complete with white armor and a protective helmet resembling a horse's head. Lux Bellator (or simply Bellator, for short by the elves) is an army of light specially summoned to defend its owner.

The sword Dolores threw earlier was a beacon for help, and luckily one Bellator responded. This sacred entity only serves the elves, or those who are worthy to rule over it.

"Attack!" Dolores ordered.

Bellator also moves to hunt for his target. Before that, Dolores cast a spell on the Fort-End entrance as soon as possible. No one could enter or leave after that. This was all done in order to protect the precious fragments of Lord's soul, including his own wife and the two bodyguards guarding them.

Nekros turns into a battle arena. The light knight broke through the thick wall of darkness, while his enemy was busy looking for a place to hide. The flash of the sword became the lantern that guided Bellator in the bitterness of the night.

On the other hand, for a creature that damaged Nekros, it was a flash of death. They wouldn't meet, at least not until now. A pair of spider legs blocked Dolores' guardian, entangling his arms and body. A loud roar broke out as he slashed them all to a pulp.

The sound of the wind added to the lively duel of the two cons who were busy chasing each other. Light against darkness. Bellator's sword carrying the two meter tall knight moved faster, overtaking his opponent, only a few steps away, but was blocked by sharp vines. Bellator accidentally stepped on one of them through his iron shoe. Black stains suddenly tainted the soldier's armor.

On the other hand, Dolores was still struggling to catch his breath. The tree trunk on top of it was not as light as paper. His ribs creaked under the impact, possibly breaking. His mouth was spitting blood, as were his long nostrils.

Bellator must succeed in defeating the destroyer of the forest, because it is the only hope. Dolores just wanted to stay there, guarding Fort-End, his beloved home, which had accompanied the retired magic teacher for over fifteen years.

The chase isn't over yet. Bellator, even though his armor was worn out, was even more violent in pursuing his prey. He transformed into a ball of light, gliding as fast as lightning, turning into a knight again right behind Lucifer's order. That thing has legs, human legs! Bellator swung the sword until it sliced ​​deep into the leg. The target fell, quickly shrouded in pitch black darkness.

When he was about to break through the darkness, the spider's legs attacked Bellator again. Not just a pair, but three pairs, four pairs, five, six and many more pierced the light knight. The graceful sword slashed here and there. One by one the monster's legs fell to the ground. However, the number is increasing. Too much for a single sword to handle.

TUSK!

Bellator finally stabbed in the right shoulder, followed by the left shoulder, stomach, left lower abdomen, more than five stabs landed on his body. Instead of falling, the knight was actually able to turn the sword once more until all the spider legs that had punctured his body broke and fell. One flick of the sword of light was enough to dispel the dark veil that was hiding his opponent. From there was a man in black robes, his back to Bellator.

The knight prepared to execute the target. His stature was neither high nor low. Wrapped from head to toe. The leg that had been slashed before was nowhere to be seen. As soon as Bellator approached, then the creature turned around and revealed its true identity.

Two eyes as red as blood, vertical irises. His gaze was like a bolt of fire, penetrating into the mind, piercing the soul and heart. Bellator was being stared at, but the heat ran through Dolores. The gnome screamed wildly.

"W-who are you!?"

"I?" He laughed slyly. "Volkath. But... they know me better as the Elves Devourer!"

"Damn you!" Dolores chanted silently, bringing himself to switch positions with Bellator. "Chains! Chains!" he screamed hoarsely.

Dozens of shining chains burst out from the ground, shackled to the Elves Devourer. Neck, body, legs, hands, the creature was completely shackled perfectly. Dolores grimaced, his broken ribs hurting.

However, the pain that ran through the gnome's thin body was paid off by the sight that his eyes witnessed. The Elves Devourer had been caught, subject to the chains of light.

"The grudges of my relatives in Eastern Fos will pay off," he whispered contentedly. "Soon. Soon you'll be—!"

Dolores was shocked. His big eyes were wide, filled with fear. The chain of light that had imprisoned the Elves Devourer was still there, not loosening an inch.

Only, from the dark cloak of the creature slipped a large scorpion tail. Creepy curving with spiked weevil the size of a human head. Before Dolores had time to speak, the tip of his tail had already hit the gnome.

~~o0o~~

Kron kicked the membrane that bound Fort-End with Nekros, in desperation. They were trapped in the artificial world for more than half an hour, unable to get out, while the clarity of Dolores' fate out there was still floating. Grover was tired of casting the gate lock spell, too, until his luscious red lips went numb a little.

"Nonsense," he said. "The gate is locked from the outside."

"Dolores! DOLORES!" called Revan while pounding the membrane. "Answer me! Dolores!"

"Is there no other way?" Kron asked.

"Whatever the way, if the owner of the world has locked the door, there is still no way out," Peach said. "I hope he's okay," she worried.

"Damn it!" cursed Revan desperate. "I should have stayed with him there."

"Don't blame yourself, Julius." Kron tried to calm down. "This creature, whatever it is, I doubt it can outperform Dolores. He'll definitely survive."

Raven sat on the ground. His head looked up into the night sky, so dark and empty now. The feeling that had stopped in his heart now was not something that could be soothed. Guilt.

Even though he didn't witness what happened, Revan knew something was wrong. Sick of silence, the man once again punched the membrane. And, this time the transparent membrane is active again. They are all shocked.

"The spell has been lifted," Grover said.

"Come on, quickly!" Revan preceded the others across to Nekros.

The sight he got was much worse than before. The trees were getting weaker, falling one by one, but that didn't stop Revan from moving in search of Dolores.

His mouth kept shouting the gnome's name. The silence of the forest echoed Revan's voice. However, he didn't find a single Dolores there, or the monster that attacked him, or any sign of either.

"Revan!" call Rio. The boy took a different path. "Dolores!"

Revan quickly turned around and walked over to Rio. There were already his friends around, and Peach was sobbing. In the woman's arms, an old gnome slumped limply. Revan's eyes suddenly reddened.

"D-Dolores," he said quiveringly, not bothering about the chaos around them.

"M-Mr. Ordich," Dolores whispered. "Y-you s-should g-go."

Revan sadly witnessed the huge hole that damaged Dolores' body. His blood spilled out, leaving a pale white skin, as if he had a second or two left. "Hold on! Grover can heal you. Grover!" Revan glanced at the elf.

Grover shook his head sadly. "We're late," he replied. "It's a curse. Something light magic can't heal."

"Don't say that!" Revan tugged on Grover's clothes. Staring at him sharply, though teary. "You can definitely help him, can't you? Yes, can't you!" he snapped. Still, Grover shook his head.

"Shit!" he shouted. "Someone can definitely help him! I'll do anything to help you, Dolores." Revan held Dolores' cold hand.

"L-listen to me," Dolores whispered later. "Th-the demon from p-past has r-returned. Vir Grehka. Lucifer. T-they're s-same person. Y-you guys g-must go. He w-will h-hold th-this journey. "

"Vir Grehka. Lucifer," Revan muttered. Dolores suddenly grabbed the man's fingers.

"I-I banished him. Th-the Elves Devourer won't be b-back for long. Aakhh!" He coughed up blood, pitifully. Then turned to Peach with his sad eyes. "P-Peach honey. Please... t-take care of Fort... End to me. I-I inherited... e-everything... to you. S-sorry. S-sorry... c-can only... a-accompany... to here. I-I... love... you."

Peach's tears fell as Dolores' cold body stretched out in his arms. The tips of the gnome's feet began to peel off, turning to ashes, continuing to spread to the knees, thighs, stomach, chest, until the last kiss Peach released his body, blown away by the wind. Revan sobbed as well, as did Grover, Rio, and Kron still trying to cover the tears that flooded.

They lost someone precious. Peach lost her beloved husband, Grover lost his only foster uncle, Rio lost the best magic teacher, Kron lost his hometown friend. And, worse, apart from feeling lost, Revan also feels responsible for Dolores' death. Unfortunately, he can't do anything now. The great Dolores had truly left this world.

(To be continued)