The Dark Order 1.2: The Fourth Seal

Begin with Chapter 1.1

Down in the basement of an abandoned church in what equates to a moldy dungeon, where the rats have claimed ownership. Now, nearly stripped of all its light, grime has infested from floor to ceiling, turning this once holy place into a forsaken hell.

A BONE CHILLING SCREAM

"PLEASE! I- I swear, I SWEAR! I don't know!", were the dire pleas of a twenty-five-year-old, White male, Holy Knight from the World Government. He lies chained to a metal table in the middle of the room.

Surrounding the table are thirty black-cloaked figures, positioned in ranks of five, standing at attention. Musi circles the table, his presence is powerful, and his followers' eyes follow his every step. He's like a messiah.

His fingers drag across the man's exposed chest, fresh second-degree burns cover his upper body. There's an arcane circle branded on his chest, just above the heart.

He sweats profusely, whimpering, and crying in pain, "I swear to you- I don't know anything about them."

Without a word, Musi's index finger GLOWS BLUE, and a blue flame burns at the tip before he presses it into the man's skin, melting and searing his flesh. He flails violently as he hollers in agony as his blood cauterizes and smokes. "I don't know anything!"

He screams out as he BANGS his head on the table.

"Once again, your commanders underestimate me." An insidious smirk. "I was too eager to believe that change could be made diplomatically. It seems the only way to get their attention is violence." He rubs the man's head as though he's consoling a child.

"My child, your debt has been repaid. You shall suffer no more."

"Don't do this... Please. I don't want to die. I don't want to, please."

He's hushed, "And you won't." Musi steps back.

"I remember when I considered Valon my home, even though I never had the chance to travel the realms. It was before your government made its mistake... I was naive then but now, I have clarity and I must say this world has a disease- It's been infected by parasites who believe their power is absolute, only doing what benefits the elite."

He stares at the man with a soulless gaze. "Naturally- It will continue festering and that sickness will spread until it can no longer survive." A blue glow fills Musi's irises. "It's why I've been chosen. The power of life is now in my control and I'm destined to rid this world of the infection, using your hollowed shell as a vessel for power that ensures it's destroyed."

Black smoke latches around his neck like a noose. "You will not die, my son." The vessels in his eyes start to burst and his sclera fills with blood. He squirms wildly but his fight quickly subsides and his body twitches before going still.

Musi snaps his fingers and it echos through the room like clock chimes. Suddenly, an aura of blue and black violently strikes the corpse and injects itself into his skin. Musi leans down, whispering into the corpse's ear, "Because death evades you."

The flesh on the body starts blistering and rotting, moving up the torso, rotting away the branding, and continuing up the neck... The face. Finally, the magic floods into his eyes, his pupils turning a sapphire blue and his irises black. In a corpse-tone voice, "Death evades meeee..."

.

..

...

....

When searching for balance, whether you're magic or the unfortunate, there's a place that lies as the median for the two conflicting worlds, a traveling tavern called FRANKLIN'S. Free of violence. Magic. Well- Except for the drinks which range from an Autumn Lager to Zebra Cobra Coolers. All species are accepted. On the exterior, an aged two-story, tattered wooden building with squeaky swinging doors and stained windows resembles a saloon. Once, you've crossed the threshold, you're transported to a speakeasy. Plenty sitting. Universal music fills the place with energy.

Upon entry, new patrons are greeted by the no bullshiting, sixty-year-old owner, FRANKLIN, dressed in black slacks, a freshly pressed long-sleeved grey button-up, and suspenders, he's hardly containing the grand God stature. He's behind an L-shaped 8-person bar.

Once upon a time, Franklin was a Senior Mage Commander who climbed through the agency ranks and eventually became Jubilee's mentor, who he deemed his successor before the incident. Afterward, Franklin found more purpose in bringing the two sides together hoping to play a part in peace amongst all. As he shines a glass, he keeps a close eye on Jubilee who's drunk and slumped over the bar, it's almost impossible to tell if he's breathing.

Obnoxious laughter shakes him and Julibee's barely able to lift his head as three, dapperly dressed males approach, led by a perfectly tanned man named LENNOX RICHARDSON, a senior mage officer- User of Acid Magic. He's Jubilee's age with perfectly cut, shined, combed back hair and a right-eye patch. He's charming without a doubt but an egotistical prick, "Oh, how the mighty has fallen."

Alexis can barely lift his head as he points and smiles. "Franklin, I'm either way too drunk or there are three dick heads walking toward me."

"It's the acclaimed, Alexis Jubilee! A man many consider a legend- Or at least they did." Hovering over Jubliee now, he leans in to whisper in his ear. "The essence ring chose nothing but a worthless drunk..." To add insult to injury, he pours what's left of his drink on Jubilee's head before he and the other men exit.

Franklin places a shot glass on the bar and pours a drink. Jubilee sits up, scratching at his facial hair with a smile, completely unbothered by the interaction. "I thought they'd never leave."

"He's envious, you know? But who wouldn't be... Those rings were supposed to be a myth. He points to Jubilee's hand. He's wearing an Emerald wrapped in a band made of looped elder oak.

"That ring was crafted from Elder Oak. The emerald is enchanted with ancient magic granting its bearer control of the Earth." He leans his arms against the bar. "What of the others?"

"Still looking." Jubilee uninterested, shoots his drink, "Shall we?"

"About time. Follow me."

Franklin leads him into the back of the tavern...

Down a winding creaky wooden staircase before arriving in the cellar with grey stone walls and lanterns used for light. Wasting no time, Jubilee removes several items from his pocket: Crow's beak, Onyx, and a decomposed finger, they've been tied together by several strands of spider silk.

"You know what will come of this?" Jubilee warns.

"I'm aware."

"And this is your last chance to turn back."

"I pity whatever creature shows up here." Jubilee pats him on the back with laughter, "Me too!"

Franklin places the items on the ground, in front of the wall. Stepping back, he whispers to himself before a BLACK ARCANE SPELL RING BURNS INTO EXISTENCE ON THE CELLAR WALL. The rings turn autonomously in succession before the wall OPENS DOUBLE DOOR.

Into a nightmarish mansion hall in a shower of webbing. To the left is a line of open black shutters stretching the hallway. Along the right are several spread-out rooms with closed doors. "Alexis, you must be quick. The spell will only last thirty minutes, understand?"

"Thirty minutes got it."

"I must stress that the spell will only keep the doorway open for--"

"Franklin, I got it.”

He ignores Jubilee and continues explaining. "If you aren't back by then, you'll be trapped in the manor with them."

"I guess I should hurry then." He steps through the doorway. "I'll see you in twenty-nine... Hopefully." He smiles and waves as the door shrinks until he stares at the manor wall.

This manor is sealed away in secret in one of The Nox dimensions. This dimension belongs to a vile creature, Madam Huntress, a dark sorceress, safeguarded and fed with magical souls.

She's killed thousands of mages, witches, and everything in between that's sent here as punishment by the World Government. If you get trapped here, this will be your prison.

The Seal of Imprisonment

There's a slight gust causing the shutters to tap against the wall, creating an eerie echo. He swipes at the endless webbing as he moves cautiously down the hallway, catching the chill pushing through the air, he adjusts his coat and wipes his eyes.

"Shall we?..."

Continuing forward, the RiPpLe EfeCt from his vision becomes more apparent, raising him up and down. As he moves past the mirror mounted on the right side wall, there's NO REFLECTION and once he's passed, something scurries behind him.

Surfing along the never-ending hallway, he peers into different rooms, when he finally realizes, he's surprised to find himself back in the hallway by the mirror. "Shit." As he looks back and forth. "Emilia, sweetheart, are you here?!

The hallway seems to carry his voice away with the RiPpLe. Suddenly, a fading scream for help pushes through the manor, diverting Jubilee's attention to a small-statured female figure engulfed in a black mist, emitting a blue aura from its eyes and hands, standing in the middle of the hallway.

“This seal hasn’t aged you well, huntress.”

Its voice rasped and corrupted, "Juubileeeee."

"Ah, so you've heard of me?" He's flattered.

"This is where you dieeeee!"

He's amused, "I've already heard that one." He holds his hand up as a strong green light emits from his ring finger. Through deep-rooted concentration, he speaks the words, "Earth essence... Rooted vessel." His eyes GLOW GREEN.

Without warning, he rushes down the hall and a magical duel ensues. Through deathly screeches, the huntress hurls countless blue blasts toward him but Jubilee is masterful in his hand movements as he directs the roots that RIP through the walls and floor like whips, slicing through the blasts.

The hallway and countless pieces of furniture are destroyed. As the battle continues Jubilee pushes his enemy backward and with it distracted by the frontal assault, a rogue root PIERCES through the her chest cavity from behind. As she’s lifted into the air, it's viciously wrapped by roots until it vanishes within a rooted coffin.

Wasting no time, he sprints down the hallway on high alert, rounding the corner, he must immediately retreat, BARELY escaping a blast that destroys part of the wall, missing his face by inches. "You're a persistent little bastard, aren't you?"

He stands up tall, rotating his head to crack his neck. Takes a couple of deep breaths. "Okay, let's do this." He rushes from behind his cover into a barrage of magic that slams into a wall of roots. Continuing to deflect, his quick maneuvering gets him halfway down the hall before black magic grabs hold of his ankle, distracting him, he's hit in the face by a fist coated in black mist and sent crashing through the wall into a large storage room.

He smashes through a desk, rolling until he hits the wall. The storage room is full of covered furniture, paintings, and webbing. Blood runs down his face from his scalp. Unfazed, he crouches behind the furniture, stealthily moving along the outer corridor before he halts. "Juuubileeee!"

Pinned against a covered china cabinet, Jubilee peeks underneath, a black misty substance cloaks his enemy's footsteps. He moves one way as the huntress moves the other, he listens, completely unaware of the grapefruit-sized spider that's crawled onto his shoulder. Glancing to his left, he frantically swipes the spider off.

He peers up at the ceiling, it's covered in THICK WEBBING. SCATTERED OPENINGS IN THE WEBBING VARY IN SIZE... THE CORPSES OF BLOOD-DRAINED VICTIMS ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT.

THIN, BLADED, BLACK LEGS START TO EMERGE.

"Give me a break..." He creates a diversion by crushing furniture on the opposite end of the room into the floor. They take the bait rushing toward the back as Jubilee stands, sprints for the door then straight through it.

Rolling back to his feet, she rushes toward him, "Rooted Prison." He fills the room with an INESCAPABLE AMOUNT OF SPIKED ROOTS. He's made it to the end of the hall, the screams for help are louder now. He takes a couple of deep breaths, brushes himself off, and moves over to a set of double doors, cloaked in the same black mist.

He steps back. His ring burns bright green as he raises his hand palm side. There's a rumble before the door begins to splinter. HE CLENCHES HIS FIST SHUT AND THE DOORS CRUSH BACK INTO THE FRAME. He jogs into the spacious Master Study. It's filled with blue flame lanterns that wrap around the circular space.

A little girl hovers over the floor cuffed in blue aura. Jubilee's relieved, "Ah- There you are, dear."

She cries out, "Help me!" The aura covers her mouth, muffling her cries for help.

"Jubileeeee!" The darkness builds upon itself, growing and cracking into what becomes Madam Huntress. She's decrepit and partially decomposed, and her irises burn a blue hue. "There's a bounty on your head!" Her teeth are rotted and black.

Jubilee's demeanor changes, his gaze turning predatory. "Then come and claim it, you wretched swine."

With a monstrous screech, the huntress fires a barrage of blue flame blasts at him but he easily matches her speed, and their magic clashes, mixing into an almost psychedelic wave. Jubilee moves around the room with agility and little exertion, using a thick root shrouded in green mana as a whip.

The root strikes are lethal, lunging like a striking mamba. They're relentless, breaking through the flooring, wrapping around the her legs, showing no mercy. She’s hurled and slammed against the wall and then the floor, crushed into the structure.

The roots wrap around her wrists and neck; trapping them.

"Who sent you after the girl and why?"

Her body starts contorting. "You know who mage!"

Filled with annoyance and impatience, "Why are you after the girl?!?"

A black-stained smile. "Not herrrrr! Youuuuu!... You're weak!” The huntress cackles wildly, “Easily tricked because of your hearttttt!" She vanishes, leaving only a cloud of black smoke. A chill sweeps through the room, "There's no escaping my swarmmmm!"

Jubilee catches Emilia as she falls out of the air. "Gotcha!... Are you hurt?" She rapidly shakes her head no.

A deep, horrific growl comes from above. Glances up wide-eyed.

THICKER WEBBING COVERS THE CEILING, THE OPENINGS MUCH LARGER AS THICK, JAGGED LEGS EMERGE BEFORE AN EIGHT-EYED BEHEMOTH SPIDER REVEALS ITSELF.

BLACK DIAMOND STRENGTH BODY COMPLETELY COVERED IN PURPLE SPOTS.

ALL OF ITS FANGS ARE CERATED. A PURPLE VENOM DRIPS FROM A RAZOR-TIP BARB.

A HORDE follows. Sizes from PENNIES to SEDANS.

"WE MUST GO- NOW!" The roots create an archway, providing a shield and a covered route to the door. The horde thrash and tear at the roots, jabbing their razor-sharp legs through. Jubilee has Emilia in his arms and dodges wildly to reach their escape in the near-dark tunnel. He bolts out of the study and back into the hallway as the window shutters all begin to shut violently, slowly turning the manor hall into a dark tunnel.

Gripping Jubilee tightly, Emilia watches in horror as HUNDREDS OF RED EYES SUDDENLY OVERTAKE THE SPREADING DARKNESS.

"AHHH!"

"Close your eyes, Emilia!" Her screams echo through the manor.

As they round the corner, Jubilee sees their escape in the distance, Franklin stands in the cellar. "Hurry Alexis! You're nearly out of time!"

All the shutters are nearly closed, he holds Emilia out in front of him, "Tell your parents, I expect my payment by morning." She cuts him a look. "But I'm happy you're safe now." He kisses her on the head before hurling her at Franklin.

She passes through the doorway as the last shutter slams shut and the spell is broken, leaving Jubilee trapped in the darkness.

RED EYES CONTINUE POPPING UP, SURROUNDING HIM. HE'S UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING AROUND HIM, HE ONLY HAS THE SOUND OF SCURRYING SPIDERS BEFORE A BELLOWING ROAR.

Through a heavy sigh, "Isn't this just fantastic..."

.

..

...

.... To be continued.

Jump straight into the next chapter:

Chapter Three