Chapter 18

Dawn of Glory [half-breed]



Chapter eighteen



Theme: Isengard, part three.



Dan had done a lot for her by plugging many skills into her brain. Trusting in the strength of her sword, her newfound power, and all of the skills he had taught her; Joy threw the blood sword with all her might, hoping and praying at the same time that she wouldn't miss the target. 



As she threw it, the sharp mouth went flying in the air, edge over the edge, consecutive towards her target and cut down the chain that was holding Duncan's wife. She was bound on both arms and tied with a chain to a rock that looked like an altar.



With the look of her eyes, one could see that she had cried her eyes out. Mucus can be seen streaming out of her nose while her eyes are red as blood. All thanks to the pixie dust that teleported Dan and Joy to the Smear liar. If they had wasted any more seconds, it would have been a waste of time for them. 



*****************



A few minutes ago,



As soon as Zedekiah reached the Smear liar, he didn't waste any time as he ordered his escort to get down to work. They hauled Duncan's wife down the Zerta which they bound her to, then pushed her towards a dark place that looked like an altar. Human skulls filled the ground, and the place smelled rotten. 



The altar was built with jasper and sardius pebbles. Three long chains were placed on the altar, and their length was high towards the sky. It was like a rope was stricken down from heaven. Not wasting any seconds, they walked Duncan's wife towards the altar, and she couldn't help but let out the tears she was trying to hide.



After his men had tied her up, he ordered them to open a box that consisted of small insects like houseflies. As soon as those small insects with black wings flew out, they made whizzing sounds which echoed throughout the environment. After that, the chain that was used to tie Duncan's wife started shaking violently, followed by the strange screeching of a wild animal.



Hearing this, all of D'arcy's soldiers, including Zedekiah himself, shifted back in panic and quickly hid. It was obvious that they feared whatever creatures that's coming down through the same chain that was used to bind Duncan's wife.



******* present 



Zedekiah's eyes went wide in shock as he saw the blood sword cutting down the chain that was holding his brother's wife. It was obvious that he didn't expect them to catch up with him. At least, not anytime soon. That's why he told Duncan to delay them for a while. 



Ambushing the ancient witch and Duncan's wife was such a hard mission for him, and he wasn't surprised when the woman vanished out of the field. Moreover, for the half-breed and her protector to be here, it means they have killed his brother. 



“Guard, kill them,” Zedekiah ordered his men, and they didn't waste any seconds as the elite soldiers took transformation.



However, their transformation was cut short by a loud screeching sound which caused all the beings to close their ears as the sound filled their eardrums; causing them to bleed in the process, not excluding Zedekiah. The screeching sound was followed by loud footsteps which became the centre of the glamour.



Emerging from the chain that Duncan's wife had just been released from is the Smear. This one is big, unlike the previous one. It was the most terrifying beast Joy had ever seen, and the sight of it alone caused her to shudder in panic. She didn't have the blood sword with her, and she wasn't sure if she could defeat it, nor Dan; nor any of Zedekiah's men.



Seeing that the situation was becoming worse, Zedekiah took a bold step forward, followed by his elite men and archers. 



Dan ambles towards Joy, holds her hand, and stares directly into her eyes. “You are the only one that could kill that beast,” He told her, and Joy stared at him in confusion. 



Dan could guess the reason for that. They had both witnessed how the lycan defeated the Smear earlier in the day. 



“This is different. You must understand!” Dan said, trying to convince her. “This is the first Smear ever, nobody can defeat it except you.”



Joy holds her waist and sighs in frustration. She let her eyes wander to Zedekiah and his men. True to Dan's word, none of them could beat the creature. It was like a malady was released into the middle land. None of them stood a chance against it, not even Zedekiah himself. 



“They deserve it,” says Joy to Dan. "They unleashed it from where it was in chains, so let them face the consequences alone." She replied nonchalantly. She shuffled away from Dan and started to stride towards Duncan's wife who had now helped her pick up the blood sword.



"Are you okay?" Joy asked from her. 



She stretches her hand forward, and the woman reluctantly gives her the blood sword, "Your husband betrayed us by setting us up. I shouldn't have helped you in the first place, it's just that I couldn't stay and watch while the ferocious beast feasted on your blood. Besides, that would also add you to the list of my enemies."



"Thank you, ma'am.'' Duncan's wife and she quickly went on her kneel as a sign of appreciation. "I will forever be grateful, and keep to the end of my promise by spreading the news of the saviour across the middle land. That will also strengthen the resistance." She elaborated.



"Joy, don't do this," Dan begged as he emerged behind Joy. "Even if you don't kill it now, you will still have to fight it in the future."



"Hell No!" Joy retorted as the reality of what Dan had just said dawned on her. 



If she doesn't fight these hell beasts now, she'll go after the people of Isengard, adding to her list of enemies. 



"Okay," she agreed, and let out an exasperated sigh. "But on one condition."



Dan smiled, "I will abide by your rule,"



"We aren't spearing that bastard," She said and pointed at Zedekiah who is still having a tough time with the beast. All his archers have been killed by the Smear along with two other elite soldiers. It's just Zedekiah and one elite soldier left.



Even if he wanted to turn back and run, he was sure that he wouldn't make it halfway before the beast caught up with him and turned him. 



All of a sudden, he had become a victim of his trap; all thanks to Joy and Dan who stopped him. What he was trying to do now is to capture the beast again and chain it back just as he had done many years ago. After that, he will face Joy and Dan. That's if they haven't escaped. 



Only if Zedekiah knew that this was not the same beast he fought years ago.



"Sure, you can have it your way." Dan agreed instantly. "Remember that I'm always with you. Let me just say we are in this together!" 



"Now cover me," Joy yelled, twirling the blood sword in her hand, and rushing at the beast. 



Letting out a great battle cry; Joy, with her newfound power lunged at the Smear. Seeing that she was a few inches away from reaching the beast, she leaped up, her legs sticking together like a round-over kick, and she performed a dead man flip. 



She raised her sword high above her head and used it to parry a dead blow that was meant for Zedekiah's head. She had just saved the man from a deadly blow. Still in mid-air, she planted her feet in the beast's chest, and the force threw the beast several feet backward. It was a sudden thrill, and it was obvious that the beast wasn't expecting it. Not from someone as young as Joy.



Shaking his head in anger, the beast growled in irritation and dashed at Joy. The latter also swung the blood sword and darted towards the beast. A few metres away, the beast collided with something else. A loud bang occurred, followed by the earth which covered the atmosphere. 



A few seconds later, everything became clear, giving Joy the chance to see what just happened. It was Dan. He was the one that collided with the beast. He was now in his full hybrid form. His nose was emitting a cloud of black smoke which could be recognized as that of his rage. He was standing on his hinges, his feet firmly holding the ground like a mountain that couldn't be shaken, and his eyes were blazing red. 



"Let's do this, sweetheart." Joy said with a wink and swung her sword towards the beast again. 



She slid under the Smear as he slashed at Joy with his long, sharp claw. Joy retaliates by slicing him on the thigh, and Dan gives him a blow that throws him several feet backward again.



"I love fighting," Joy screeched, as she-cat walked toward the beast again. Now she was feeling something different in her body. 



She could feel that something was beginning to change inside her, but she didn't care. Her main aim and focus now are on this beast that was turning people. After she is through with him, she will then direct her anger back to Zedekiah. Somehow, she wasn't bothered about Mrs. Sandra.



Joy dived at the beast again, but this time she aimed for the creature's head with her sword. However, the Smear was prepared for her this time. Glimpsing what Joy intended to do, the beast raised its hand and caught Joy on the neck. The beast tightens his grip on Joy's neck, choking her in the process.



Joy, seeing that she was losing air, gathered all her strength, and stabbed the beast in its eyes. As the blood sword came into contact with its eyes, the creature headbutted Joy hard on the face, altogether with her mouth and nose before throwing her away like a baby toy.



Joy went flying several feet in the air. Her body was floating in mid-air with nothing to stop it. 



Joy could feel her mouth bruising up as the effects of the beast's attack. She could feel her tongue tasting blood, and she wasn't surprised. It was the first blow she had ever received from an enemy when she just learned how to control her power, and it wasn't bad. All she needs to do is to be more careful next time so she won't receive a disastrous blow.



Seeing that there was nothing that was stopping her from floating in the air, Joy closed her eyes in anticipation of the destructive land. As she closed her eyes, she felt something shielding her body. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and there was Zedekiah. He was the one that stopped Joy from hitting her head hard on the ground. Even Dan stood in shock, unable to believe what had just happened.



"Are you okay?" Zedekiah's voice brought her back to reality. 



Hell No! Joy thought. How could she be okay when she had just received a blow from her enemy and the main anchor of the problem had just acted like a hero by saving her? 



"Are you hurt anywhere?" Zedekiah asked again.



"Stop acting like a hero," Joy snapped at him. "You caused this, didn't you? If you hadn't brought that woman here with the aim of turning her, or if you weren't deceiving the people by turning them into beasts and acting like their hero, none of this would have happened."



"It's none of my faults," Zedekiah embroidered. "I was doing what Lord Darius commanded me to do. We both know that failure to fulfil his wishes would mean death."



"Saved your story till when I was through with your lazy beast." Joy giggled, and Zedekiah derided. "You are doubting me, right? Just wait and see."



"How did you plan on killing such a huge beast alone?" asked Zedekiah, with a smile.



"I will kill him, and then you." Says Joy with a sneered. "I'm a true half-breed. Besides, good will always prevail over bad." She replied proudly, and walked towards Dan with a serious look on her face. 



"Dan, let's show them what we can offer as a team," Joy clarified, and Dan nodded his head in understanding.



Before the blink of an eye, Joy dashed at the beast again; and Dan followed after her. This time, the duo had a hard look. and one could see the determination on their faces. The beast, upon seeing the duo howled in readiness. He stamped his leg on the floor, and the force made a creaking hole on the earth.



A few inches before the duo could reach the beast, Joy reduced her speed, giving Dan some lead over her. Seeing that Dan was several feet ahead of her, Joy dived forward, and her body was spinning in the air like a screwdriver. The blood sword was also in her hand, and she was pointing the sharp mouth straight forward.



Not wasting any seconds, Dan grabbed her free hand and used it to push her forward, thereby enhancing the speed at which she was spinning. Joy closed her eyes, praying and willing with her heart that her plan should work. Dan had been teaching her this skill for a long time, and she had never succeeded in mastering it.



Even though she knew that it was a suicide attempt, she was ready to give it a trial. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally felt her sword touching the beast. Thank goodness, it went straight to the heart. Instantly, Dan appeared behind the beast in an attempt to rip out its head, but it was a bizarre try.



It was like the beast had predicted their move. It easily caught Dan's hand, twisted it, and cracking of bone was heard, which deciphered that Dan had shattered a bone. After that, the creature knocked him away with its large, enormous wings. With a loud bang, Dan collided with the floor, and he coughed out blood. Eventually, the beast directed his full attention at Joy.



Joy removed her sword from the beast's chest and swung it again. This time, she aimed for the beast's wing, which she used to hit Dan away. It was a perfect attack, and the Smear screamed in pain as Joy whacked down his wing. Before he could think of attacking her again, Joy, with her super speed, stabbed the beast in the heart again, at the same place she stabbed it earlier.



This time, she managed to hold still. Despite how the beast was clawing her and trying its best to fling her away, she remained standing. Dan, who has also recovered from the beast's attack, darted at the beast and pierced its neck with his claw. He intentionally did this to distract the creature's attention from Joy. He was sure she was about to use her power because her eyes had turned red.



Still holding to the smooth ivory of the blood sword, Joy went for her power. She could remember the training she had been through in the woods when she was about to retrieve the blood sword. How she fought those tree branches and froze them. Now she wanted to do the same thing to this beast.



She let out her power, allowed it to flow through her hand, which was holding the blood sword, and sent it straight to the beast's heart. At first, nothing happened. But after a few seconds, the beast went stiff, and his body turned white. Joy herself couldn't believe it. She had just frozen the Smear's heart with her power. With a harsh pull, she retrieved her sword, while Dan did her the favour of shattering it to pieces with a single punch.



"Wow, I can't believe you did it. You killed the ancient Smear beast." With the utmost respect, Zedekiah said.



"You are indeed a true half-breed," said the elite soldiers that were standing beside Zedekiah. Slowly, the duo went on their knees and bowed their heads in respect.



"I, Zedekiah Amaza accepted you, Joy, as the true half-breed and saviour of the middle land," says Zedekiah. He had just pledged his loyalty to Joy.



Joy smiles inwardly, and she walks towards Zedekiah. However, she stopped mid-way as she saw the man and his last elite soldiers spitting out blood. Before she could blink, their heads came rolling down.



"That bastard didn't know who to serve," says the cold voice of Micah Tyler as he emerges from the darkness. "They deserved a brutal death from Lord Darius, but I just did them a favour by giving them a quick death." He said, chuckling before throwing the head of Duncan at them.



"What have you done?" Joy screamed in anger and made to charge at him, but Dan quickly held her back.



"Micah Tyler," says Dan, as he catches a full glimpse of him. 



"Wow, so you still remember me." Micah Tyler mumbled as he started taking some steps towards Dan.



"I will advise you to step back, or else I won't hesitate to kill you." Joy warned with a threatening voice.



"You think I'm alone, don't you?" With a scoff, Micah Tyler says."Nope, you are wrong. The son of Alexander did me the favour of granting me an army. Not only that, he is the one that always lets me find you soon." He elaborated, and brought out the compass, which he was using to track Joy.



Joy looks around, trying to figure out what Micah meant by saying that he was not alone. After some minutes of searching, she finally gulped down nothing in particular as she saw the men in front of her. Emerging from the darkness is a different clone of Micah. They had big, coiling tentacles at their backs, like an octopus. Finally, Joy knew she and Dan couldn't win the fight without Mrs. Sandra's help and they couldn't leave Isengard without her at the same time.



"Are you scared, our half-breed?" Micah mocked her. "Let's see how your friend here will save you."



"I'm not scared of you," Joy said, trying her best to be brave. "Just that I'm afraid of adding you to my kill list. So, don't underestimate me because I can not be predicted." 



"Is that so?" With a smirk, Micah Tyler says."Then let's see you try." He looked at all his clones, and they also directed their gaze at him. Not waiting again, Micah Tyler and his clone attacked Dan and Joy while the duo got ready to meet them in a bloody battle.



A few inches for Micah and his clone to meet Dan and Joy. A sudden bright light filled the whole place, which caused a moment of blindness for the two teams, followed by a female voice that said, "non puoi batterli, non sotto la mia sorveglianza." Non possono morire Oggi." Finally, the light disappeared while Dan and Joy were nowhere to be found again. 



Without being told, Micah Tyler knew he had just missed his target again.



T.B.C.