16 [Bonus] The Seventh
Four red Aarogs are sitting around a large. glowing crystal listening to their Commander's orders. They are being told the Planeswalkers their Lord has chosen to pit their strength against will be ascending to the planes in a few moments and they need to be on guard.
They are told to either kill them on-site or if the Planeswalker has any potential to capture them alive and deliver them to the Legion Commander.
"I wonder what these chosen will look like. Do you think they will be fellow Aarogs or a different race?"
The smallest Aarog in the group asks the other members.
"The race cannot be Aarog Callech. All Aarogs have been working under our Lord's banner for millennia."
An Aarog who has graying at the end of his appendage's answers.
"Gorlech is right. It must be some other race. I hope it's a clan of humans. They're always soft and fun to play with." The largest in the group comments while chucking to himself.
The other three immediately attempt to curry favor by agreeing with the leader of the group.
The only female in the group positions herself behind the leader and rubs his shoulders in an affectionate manner.
"As long as you don't play with them too much Korgash. I wouldn't want you to forget about me."
She presses her body against his back so he can feel her body's curves.
"Ha-ha-ha, I could never replace you with some trash human Keller." Korgash laughs uproariously.
While the group exchanges stories of past conquests over other races they've battled in different plane wars, a large red portal appears in the distance.
The group instantly becomes alert, and they gather in a formation grasping their weapons.
A human female drops out of the portal and lands face down on the ground. She pushes herself off the ground and while on her hands and knees retches a few times eventually throwing up.
She quickly stands up and dusts herself off and wipes her face and makes a "Nyah" noise.
Korgash grins in delight and says to his squad, "The Planeswalker is a flimsy female human! Our fates have changed. Quickly surround her."
The four Aarogs split up and stealthily surround the woman.
Once they are in the position, they hear the woman talking to herself and bringing her hands up to her face scrunching them like they are paws.
"O.M.G. everyone it's your girl PandaCat nyah nyah. I'm here in Sanctuary Annihilation Online and the game just started. This game is already cray cray. Before the Dive even officially started some crazy voice actor told us this wasn't a game, and we were all going to die for realsy."
PandaCat starts motioning to the air and striking poses as she continues to monologue to her "viewers".
The other three Aarog turn to Korgash for directions, but he seems just as confused as the rest. He motions to the other three to hold their positions.
"This character was named Neothak, and he seemed like he was absolutely insane" PandaCat continues to explain what Neothak said to all the 25,000 selected players.
Upon hearing the name Neothak, Korgash and the other Aarogs' eyes go wide in fear.
'This is one of the selected our Commander was telling us about.' Korgash thinks to himself.
He quickly gets over his fear of the mention of Neothak once he realizes the situation and instead is overcome by greed.
Korgash motions to his squad to move and restrain PandaCat.
"So that's the gist of it my Panda squad, yours truly is about to embark on this awesome adventure and – Oh my god! What the fuck are these red demon-looking people!" PandaCat screams in fear as the four Aarogs jump out and surround her.
Getting over her initial shock, PandaCat believes this is part of the beginning of the game and continues to narrate to her viewers.
"What the fuck is this? I don't even have any gear or anything and I'm being surrounded by these mobs? This is the type of stuff that pisses me off Panda squad. How can they do this to your girl?"
The female Aarog is infuriated by PandaCat narration and delivers a powerful backhand to her face. "Shut the fuck up bitch! You talk too much."
A loud cracking noise is heard after she connects her attack and PandaCat's head twists unnaturally to the side.
"You stupid bitch! You killed her." Korgash's stomach drops as he realizes that the woman's neck has been snapped and she died. He thinks to himself of the lost rewards he just missed out on.
He swings his blade at the female Aarog in anger and decapitates her in his rage.
"Nobody will be benefitting from killing the Planeswalker except for me, is that understood?" Korgash says to Gorlech and Callech in a threatening tone.
They quickly nod in affirmative and do not dare to speak.
A few moments later a flame aura flashes around PandaCat's body and her neck twist back into place.
As the flame aura disappears PandaCat opens her eyes and screams in fear as tears pour uncontrollably down her face.
"A Phoenix Down? What dogshit luck does this Planeswalker have to be in possession of such a rare item. The Lord truly has a sick twisted sense of humor." Gorlech mutters under his breath as he watches in awe.
"What do you mean by a sick twisted sense of humor? The Lord granted this unworthy human such a rare item and a chance at a second life." Callech asks Gorlech in envy.
"You see this human's reaction to resurrection, no? Her mind is most likely destroyed in the process. Do you think dying, going to the realm of the damned, and being forcefully removed is a joyful experience? It's even possible she met our Lord of Terror. I'm sure he would relish the opportunity to see firsthand the fruits of his game."
PandaCat continues to scream and starts to grab her hair and rip clumps of it out while rocking back and forth on the ground.
"This human is wasted, and we won't be able to get any additional information out of her. God's damn Keller wasting this golden opportunity for us."
Korgash walks over to PandaCat and lifts her by her neck and starts to squeeze. He smiles triumphantly to himself as he watches PandaCat's face turn purple and her eyes bulge. She subconsciously starts to claw and grab Korgash's hand.
As mucous and tears drip down her face some of it gets onto Korgash's fingers.
"Damnit, she leaked on me," Korgash says in disgust snapping PandaCat's neck and throwing her body away like a rag doll.
'Good thing she did have a Phoenix Down on her, this way I get the final credit for the kill.' Korgash thinks smugly to himself.
"Ha-ha-ha, today is a great day and one to change one's fate."
Gorlech seeing his leader's reaction quickly smacks himself on his chest and his face goes pale. He then spits out a glowing sphere of red blood and starts to create symbols in the air as he makes a vow.
"I Gorlech, swear upon my heart's blood that I will not reveal anything that happened or what I witnessed on this day or my life shall be forfeit."
Upon finishing his vow, the symbols glow a deep crimson gold and brand themselves onto Gorlech's heart, lungs, and mind.
Callech looks on in confusion and asks Gorlech why he would make such a vow at the cost of his already fading health.
"Gorlech why would you make a heart's blood vow? The killing of the Planeswalker is a good thing and will earn us many meri—"
A blade appears out the end of Callech's mouth ending his talk.
The hand holding the blade belongs to Korgash. Korgash smiles malevolently at Gorlech.
"Gorlech, you always have been the smartest and most loyal."
Gorlech goes down on one knee and responds, "Of course leader, this lowly one will always follow you faithfully, follow your commands, and follow you through rivers of flames or mountains of blades."
"Ha-ha-ha" Korgash laughs at Gorlech's antics.
"Good, very good. Now sprite, reveal yourself and fulfill the contract that is due!"
A sigh is heard throughout the surroundings and a male green sprite blinks into existence. He gives an elaborate bow toward Korgash and says, "I am Demetrey, my lord. I will honor the laws of my race and enter a slave contract with you via your rights of conquest."
"Excellent, this will be my turning point. Gorlech clean up this area and we will move out immediately to search for additional Planeswalkers.
Korgash smiles predatorily at Demetrey and holds out his hand. Demetrey turns into a green light and enters Korgash's body through his hand becoming a tattoo brand traveling up his forearm.
