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| - Dancus and Raiah ran out of the Palace and immediately encountered Raef, Kroak and his men all armed with swords. "We came to save you!" Raef exclaimed. There was silence. "What's wrong? Do I look threatening with a sword?" Raef asked. "No fear of that happening my friend, and we'd best get out of here - Mallum's back," Dancus noted. "We'll watch your backs!" Kroak exclaimed. His warriors surrounded the group, forming something of a shield. "Kroak here mentioned penguins breaking out of Ardougne Zoo," Raef said. "Penguins?" Raiah asked. "Yes, penguins, they're not as pleasant as they look," Kroak noted. "Don't tell me, they can actually fly?" "Oh don't be so ridiculous." "Oh dear," Raef noted, looking at the ash in the sky nearby. Metallian tossed a dagger in his hand. Farrell and Phillip looked at the wreck of Falador. They had been travelling in a small boat, for most of the land is flooding. Metallian found the duo earlier and captured them, and at the same time he had sealed off Lumbridge castle. The Duke and Vallance could not escape, neither could the citizens of Lumbridge and Draynor. Metallian spotted a group of humans, outside the city, fleeing. He then steered the boat in their direction, and untied his hostages. He then whispered in their ears, and raised a white flag at the group. They were bewildered, only Tarqinder and Mark raising weapons. "Away, creature! We know your true colours!" Tarqinder snarled, poised to attack. "You could say I saw the light, and realized how far into darkness I fell. I regret what I've done, and wish to start anew. You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" Metallian said convincingly. "Erm... Tarq, he's right you know! We've been travelling with him, and um... been fighting alongside with him" Farrell added, unsurely. Tarqinder grumbled, but accepted. Metallian turned around at Farrell and Phillip, and his eyes gleamed red for a split second. They sighed, but they were both thinking about how to stop Metallian. "So Tarq, trying to recreate the old group?" Farrell asked. "Farrell? You're alive? I've been told you were eaten alive!" Tony gasped, only just noticing him. The two fist bumped. "I'm alive and well... can't say the same for Darako. The Red Mist really didn't like him..." Farrell replied sadly. "Then we shall fight in his honour!" Tony said. "By the way, I'm Phillip Styne, I exist as well you know!" Phillip chuffed. "You... three are welcome to join our crusade. I'm Tarqinder, and I'm a dragon slayer. Tony de Fillo is the one that looks like a hulking, golden knight. And the rest..." "Well, we have two wannabe wizards, two actual wizards, two Misthalinian officers and a girl. Sometimes I think the world is better off without us" Tony chuckled, only to be frowned upon by everyone else. "What? I'm the only one with golden armour and a flail!" Tony declared. Sharkros looked from the balcony. The whole of Asgarnia had already surrendered, and the cities were littered with sea creatures, who were mourning the loss of fellow animals. The humans were confused, but said nothing. "You should have submitted from the start! No one would have died!" Sharkros shouted angrily at Sir Amik. "Why do you care so much about fish? You are a shark, after all, and you eat fish-" "That's life! Survival of the fittest! But since my mutation, I have seen the light. I stopped the sea creatures eating each other, and got them working alongside each other. My hatred of humans alone have kept me fighting, and now we have a new food source. You!" "So, once you've taken over the world, we humans shall be treated like cattle and chickens. What happens when we run out? Then you'll starve!" Amik pointed out. "You humans have too much willpower for the breeding program, so I've factored that. The lord Guthix can provide us with eternal sustenance, should we request it!" Sharkros laughed. "You're going to eat a god?" "No, you mewling idiot! He shall provide us with an everlasting food source!" Sharkros replied angrily. Five minutes later, Sir Amik was intensely whispering with his fellow knights. "Can we rely on the Socialist army to save us?" "No. The Socialists don't exist anymore - they were all wiped out by a special squadron of manta rays and stingrays" Sir Tiffy replied. "Anyone else then?" "No. The stakes are high, and we are losing this war. At least they are keeping us alive... for now." The town of Yanille was suddenly bombarded by ash, and the Wizards' Guild was the only haven. The citizens ran through the streets coughing as the ash choked them, due to their work at the Wizards' Guild the sea life had spared the town. A guard crawled along the ground as his armour became dirtied by the dark ash, his sword clenched in his hand. "Stay indoors!" he called out, barely able to speak. Ibrahim watched the anarchy on the streets from the Guild, but now the Guild's doors were being pulled open by the force of the ash. Wizards tried to stop it, but the strong winds that had picked up earlier in the day was not helping. Within minutes, ash was spewing in and wizards were being thrown to the floor as they gasped for clean air. "What do we do now?" Ibrahim asked himself as he stood next to Zavistic's body. It was motionless, the sickly yellow skin tone had remained, providing a nasty reminder of the situation with the sea life; but now they had much bigger things to worry about. The ash struck Ardougne's eastern edge, and immediately reached as far in as the market. The few survivors of the sea life attack stumbled about, only to be thrown into the buildings by what was fast becoming a storm. The people possessed by sea slugs were quickly being killed as well along with their mollusk leaders. Outside Ardougne Palace rain began to pour down, not too heavy though, and Raef looked upwards at the darkening sky. "This is it, the end of days," Raef noted. Kroak and his troupe clenched their armour and weapons while Dancus and Raiah stood beside them. "Don't be ridiculous! You can't fight the weather with your swords and shields!" Raef exclaimed. "You need me," Dancus said. "You were able to help put a stop to the storm in Hemenster with Vadas' help, now you're alone and we have no runes; and this is much stronger," Raiah noted. "I can use my powers-" "No, you'll end up draining all your life force and end up decomposing incredibly quick - and if you start decomposing there's no coming back with one sip of potion! So we're not taking the risk." "Fine." "I would add, though, that the storm does seem to be getting nearer, so maybe we ought to consider doing something at least my companions," Raef stated as the wind began to reach them. "This city is going to be ravaged, we need to get out," Raiah said firmly. "Let's try Hemenster then," Dancus suggested, and the group began to run in the direction of the small village. The wind was becoming stronger, and the group found it more straining to run as they pushed against the elements. Raef's once neat clothes billowed in the strong wind and he was struggling to keep in a straight line. "What about Harmon and Meep? I take it we're going back for them," Raef asked, his voice not very loud over the howling wind. "Your leader is at death's door and some stupid lizard doesn't matter," grunted Empriro. "How dare you!" Raef exclaimed, hitting the man in the face. "We can quickly stop off at the Palace!" "I wouldn't count on it," Kroak noted as he glimpsed someone being thrown about by the wind. "We have to think about ourselves now." "I know it's not ideal, but we didn't exactly have a choice," Tarqinder stated. The escapees of Falador had retreated to Goblin Village, watching the rain fall around them as they sat amongst the evergreens. "Not many goblins," Jake noted, glimpsing only a group stumbling about near their huts. "They did tell us many had fled," Tony stated, "I guess they're not as stupid as they look." "Don't be so rude!" Tarqinder snapped, "they've allowed us into their residence." "Rain again," Iyla grumbled. "It's a curse from the heavens," Mrs. Rottham stated. "More like one bonfire too many," Tarqinder stated, putting out a small fire which Tony had made, "haven't you learn anything these past few weeks?" Tarqinder got up and walked to one side where Mark sat, watching a small puddle forming on the path leading towards Taverley. "What's wrong?" Tarqinder asked. "What's right, you mean," Mark stated. "We'll think of something, I'm sure of it." "There's so much to be learn though, we take burning logs and coal for granted, but look what we're doing, look what we've done. And we never thought anything of fishing time after time after time, my own parents were involved in it, they helped cause this, we helped cause this; everyone's to blame." "And when we solve this, everyone can help to rebuild this world a little bit better, and find something else to concern us." "When we solve this? We've lost this time, we've done bad." Mark got up and headed towards the other members of the group. "He's right, we've failed," Tarqinder murmured to himself. A slight wind picked up amongst the evergreens, slowly blowing them side to side. Tarqinder thought nothing of it; that damn shark is probably doing something to the skies, he thought. "You have lost your way," said a voice. Tarqinder quickly turned around to see a silvery figure flickering into existence before his eyes. The distinct appearance of Kumthalatta formed before him, in his tribal clothing with even his spear in hand. "A ghost," Tarqinder whispered to himself, "you died?" "Remember when we last met? In those underground caverns on the homeland? I was a prisoner, but when the others were killed I escaped, only to meet my end not too long after, bwana," Kumthalatta said. "How was death?" "Swift, a suitable end for a warrior like myself." "How are you a ghost?" "Bwana, I am here, and this is all that matters. When I died, and came back in this form, I learnt so much, my eyes were opened. I realised so much, and when I saw my village being flooded by water and choked with ash I knew it had to be stopped somehow, and this task falls to you and your friends." "But how? What can we do?" "You are a fighter, and fighters must do all they can, even if it involves making some sacrifices, to save the world." "There's still a chance of victory I suppose, even if it is small." "A true warrior would fight, however little hope they have." "And you think we can do that?" "I think you can try." "This is madness, I'm being told by the ghost of someone who has threatened me with my life on more than one occasion that me and these people can stop an army of sea monsters, a swarm of insects and a storm of ash from destroying the world." "But isn't that what life is? Madness? Give up now, and you'll never know if you could have saved the world." And with that, Kumthalatta faded away. Tarqinder reached out to where he was; there was nothing apart from the neverending rain. "Talking to yourself, are we now?" Tony said, as he was lighting another fire. "Stop lighting fires! You're contributing to the weather problem!" "It's too late. The world is doomed anyway, even if the sea life are defeated. Besides, what's one fire gonna do?" "A lot. Now put it out before I do!" Tony didn't reply. He just looked at the stars and the moon, deep in thought. "If only we could leave this burning world behind, and take refuge beyond the stars. That moon doesn't look too bad, either." That was when he noticed the crimson smoke in the background. He recognized it all too well, but before he could raise the alarm, the mist surrounded all the walls of Falador. "What's that red smoke?" Sir Amik shouted, squinting at the window. Many knights had a good look, and stumbled back in fear. "The Red Mist! Impossible!" one of them shouted. "Just on time. Before you ask any questions, I see Falador as a major trading port. When it's flooded, though. The Mist are under my control, and I ordered them to make sure no one escapes Falador. The city is crucial to my plan. While my army fights in other kingdoms, they are winning. Strength in numbers. Something you humans can't do is unite. That is a weakness I have exploited!" Sharkros rambled to Sir Amik. Meanwhile in Keldagrim, chaos sparked. Dwarves were running everywhere, as crocodiles were destroying the city. Resistance was fierce, but the crocodiles managed to overwhelm the dwarven army. Although Sharkros had ordered some cities be spared, he didn't care what happened to the dwarves. Lumbridge castle had been overcrowded with citizens of Lumbridge and Draynor. They were not allowed to escape, for all exits were blocked by sea serpents. The two towns had been occupied by various sea creatures, with houses filled with turtles and jellyfish. Not all areas on Gielinor had been attacked. The Kharidian desert was just a desert, and no sea creature could thrive there. Morytania was full of potential threats, so Sharkros decided he would leave that place alone... for now. The Wilderness and Troll kingdoms were unscathed, and the Feldip Hills were worthless to the empire. Hemenster had also found itself left by the sea life, as there were no humans apart from those in the remains of the Fishing Guild, but those expertise fishermen had already been dealt with. Raef, Raiah, Dancus, Kroak and his group strolled down the empty road which lead to Seer's Village and then Catherby. "I never though Hemenster could become anymore dull than I'd seen before," Kroak said, listening to the trees swaying in the wind. "Hey! That's my home you're talking about!" Raiah snapped. "Sorry, but you have to admit that things are a bit dull." "Not while Rai's making potions," Dancus quipped with a smirk. "Quiet you! If it wasn't for my potions you'd be dead under the ground in Ardougne, or even worse, stuck wandering this world as a ghost." "If we could please focus our attention to the problem at hand," Raef stated. "Are we safe here? The wind seems to be picking up a bit." "This is just the tail of the storm, we should be safe," Kroak stated. "The whole city of Ardougne, it's being destroyed." "We can rebuild it Raef, and I'm sure there are some survivors out there," Dancus stated. "What do you mean 'rebuild'? Rebuild what? These kingdoms are going to be under a tyranny equally as dangerous as Lathas and his insane army!" "I never thought I'd say it but Morytania's safer than Lumbridge at the moment, even if there is a risk of bad tempered werewolves and blood-sucking freaks, again," Lady Vile smirked. "Raiah, we can hide in the basement can't we?" Dancus asked. "Of course, and I'll brew some explosive potions should our aquatic friends catch hold of our scent," Raiah answered, surveying the surroundings for eavesdroppers. "Raiah, double time it on those potions, if you will," Dancus said, leaning against a wall in the shop's basement with Raef, Kroak and the others. "I'm not sure that I feel safe here. I mean, the Sealifes are sure to come back sooner or later." Raiah stood over a large pot, stirring in herbs and salts. "I'm going as fast as I can; trust me." She glanced back down at her recipe. "One Eagle Owl wing..." she walked into a cellar room and returned with a cage containing an owl. "What are you doing?" Dancus asked. "Calm down; I only need to dip his wing into this potion to get the magical essence. You wouldn't understand... it's way more complicated than standard Herblore." Raiah dipped the owl's wing into the potion, which sparkled as it absorbed the magic. Raiah sighed. "What's wrong?" asked Dancus. "Oh, nothing. Zvlodnfikk here was Master's old familiar; he passed it onto me as a rite of passage gift. I just hope my Master's OK." Dancus sighed. "Don't we all. Don't we all." Metallian watched his target. He overlooked the whole group on the nearby hillside, where he managed to sneak out. He grabbed his specialized lava launcher, watching his victim carefully. He aimed for Tarqinder's head, and his hand reached the trigger. Soon enough Tarqinder's head would be burning, and the unseen assassin would then pick off the others. He pulled the trigger, and he chuckled. He could hear screams of pain, and he looked through the scope. He grunted angrily, as he noticed he hit the wrong guy. He was too busy trying to reload, and couldn't hear the footsteps behind him. "You backstabbing son of a witch!" Farrell growled angrily, as he lunged forward and push Metallian off the hillside. But a cold, metallic hand grabbed Farrell's ankle as they both tumbled off the rocks. Everybody looked up, as they saw the duo falling. "Oh my Saradomin!" Mark exclaimed, watching in horror. "FARRELL!" Tarqinder and Tony exclaimed in unison. They could certainly die, for there were sharp mining rocks at the bottom. No one could do anything, and both were impaled. Metallian's armour was shredded, as a black cloud emerged from the suit and dissipated above Goblin Village. Farrell died instantly, unfortunately, leaving a pyscho Tony, all the rage leaving his body in a loud scream. "Are they-?" Jake asked. Tarqinder nodded, and put a hand on Tony's shoulder but he shook it off. The group looked on in silence. Phillip and Farrell were given a funeral soon after. It was a horrible sight, for Phillip's face had been completely burnt, with his skull and brain showing. Nobody looked back, as Tony went into a hut and locked the door. Sharkros' army had cast a grim shadow over Gielinor, the three kingdoms were in very poor states, especially Asgarnia. The rain had been pouring down for hours now, and the group were tired. The dark of the evening drew in, and an eerie twilight settled on the world. It was the first time in centuries that the cities weren't full of orange flames, it was almost total darkness, apart from one tiny place holding out - the group of survivors. They had returned to Goblin Village after the death that had occurred near Taverley, and they couldn't forget the stench of the bodies, especially Tony. "The twilight has come, possibly for the last time," Mark mused. "This is it, this is really it, the end of days." "Mark, I need to tell you something. When I was thinking exactly the same thing, I was visited by a spirit," Tarqinder stated. "What spirit?" "Kumthutalla." "Don't you mean Kumtutha-" "Never mind that. He encouraged me, he said a true warrior would fight, and I wasn't sure whether to take that much notice until now, because that's the kind of thing you hear all the time. I remembered though, I remembered my role, I'm a Slayer, and a Slayer's job is to protect the kingdoms, to defend them, and that's what we must do." "I'm no Slayer." "I never told you Mark Theobald, before we left for Karamja, I put your name forward to replace Ferdinand, become a Slayer yourself, hopefully of revenants." "Revenants? No chance, I can't fight." "You can, though, and we're going to prove it tomorrow." "Why, what's happening tomorrow?" "We're going to Falador, and we're going to seek revenge." "You can count me out," said Norbert, joining the two. "Have you come to bask in the warmth of our fire?" Tarqinder asked. "You do know the problems you're causing to the world, all that burning?" "Well it's either that or freeze to death, so either way I'm putting my life in danger it would seem. Hold on, count you out?" "I'm not running away from battle, I'm going to join another." "What are you saying?" "While everyone sleeps, I've been thinking, and I've decided to return to Yanille. They'll need help themselves, for all I know they could be buried under ash, but whatever is wrong, I can sense it." "Right, well it's a noble cause nonetheless." "Thank you, and now we'd best get some rest, it's a big day tomorrow, bigger than we could ever imagine." "It certainly will be," Mark murmured, looking at Falador's walls in fear. The next day arrived, but clouds covered the sky. Rain was still pouring down lightly, with puddles covering much of the ground. "What do you mean leave?" Tarqinder asked. "Well if Norbert and Orca are going to help the Wizards' Guild, we should go too!" Jake exclaimed. "Why? What good are you to them?" "Let me think, maybe it's because they need our help more than you lot! They've got ash and sea slugs to deal with!" Tarqinder paused, he hadn't told them today they would go to Falador and attack. They'd probably die, he thought, and was it worth losing another life after Farrell? No, it wasn't. "Fair enough," Tarqinder said. "Right then son, Wizards' Guild it is," Mr. Rottham said. "Right, now this is going to take quite a few runes to move all six of us to Yanille, so we'll need to stand close together and well away from the others, Saradomin knows how dangerous it could be to others!" Norbert ordered. The six of them stood together in a square, some of the remaining goblins watched them curiously. "The disturbance in the runes has definitely decreased, we should be safe. Well then, I guess this is goodbye," Norbert said. "We'll see you again, we promise," Mark said. "Of course we will." "Good lu-" Tarqinder was cut off, as Norbert dropped the runes on the floor and the group disappeared in a flash of light. The goblins banged their daggers and shields together in applause, impressed by the sheer power of the wizarding group. "Now, this is it Tarqinder," Mark said. "Do you think Tony will want to join us?" "Positive," Tony said, standing behind them. Tarqinder smiled as Tony joined them, clutching his whip which was battered. "Let's show them just what humanity can do," Tony stated. The three of them clutched on to their weapons and made for Falador, saluting the goblins who in return gave them a goblin salute. The path seemed to go on forever, but maybe that was just their fear making it seem that way. Despite the dire conditions, the battle was going exceptionally well. Bruce had pushed his Division down the side of the swamp and a series of barricades had been constructed. The sea creatures were attacking but the Division had entrenched themselves enough to completely stop any and all attacks. Sitting upon the back of a Void Beast Bruce spoke into his communication rune. “General Meyers, sir?” “Who is this? Brysworth?” “Yes sir. How goes the attack?” “The forest is well alight and the bulk of the army is following up behind it. What is your condition?” “My troops have entrenched themselves, sir, and we’re burning any beasts that come our way. Have you heard from General Horace?” “Horace says his Division are beginning to open fire into the swamp. They claim to have less resistance than you’re receiving. This plan of yours is doing well, Brysworth – let’s hope it stays that way. Meyers out.” Bruce watched the blue glow of the rune subside, and then looked out over the murky swamp. In the distance he could see the orange lick of distant flames, although more clear to his eye were the huge plumes of black smoke rising above. Behind that, he knew, were several thousand armoured men, beasts and siege weapons, crawling slowly towards – and across – the sea creatures. Bruce smiled, but then his thoughts turned to Hecate. Raiah had a number of explosive potions lined along the shelves while Dancus, Raef and Kroak stood near the door. "We've got enough potions to launch at least a small attack, but we don't have enough people," Raiah said. "Well where do we get people from? The sea life have captured them all," Kroak snapped. "I doubt everyone has been captured, I'm sure there's at least some fugitives still in Kandarin," Raef said. "We can look for them, me and Raef can go to Seer's Village," Dancus said. "And me and my men can get an idea of what we're up against, plus we need to know what the weather's like south of here," Kroak said. "Very well, always make the girl stay behind..." Raiah said. "No, no, no, it's your job to defend this place from any sea life should they show up," Dancus grinned, before the groups made their way out. Yanille was surrounded by a cloud of ash, and the sunlight was very weak. People lay dead in the streets, ash coating their remains, but Ibrahim and a few of the other wizards chanced going outside into the town. "Look at it, the work of monsters!" Ibrahim snapped, coughing. "Keep it down, those sea creatures will hear you-" the young wizard was cut off. "I don't give a damn! They've killed our leader and slaughtered our town! Saradomin knows what they've done to Asgarnia, the ash only just hit Rimmington according to the telescopes!" "We have to run, go somewhere else." "No, we're going to fight, we're going to cut every last one of these creatures in half and serve them on a plate!" "How? The ash damaged the ground floor of the Guild and many of its spellbooks when it swept through the doors!" "First, we can lighten this town up a bit, we can't see beyond the city gates with all this ash." Ibrahim led the others back inside the Guild, and prepared to save the world - or die trying. There was a flash of light inside, and Norbert, Orca, Jake, his parents and Iyla. "You," Ibrahim murmured. "You, what?" Norbert asked. "As soon as you left Zavistic went all mollusk!" Ibrahim got his staff and rammed Norbert against the wall with it. "You left us!" Ibrahim yelled. "Zavistic was possessed! Gregory told me and Zavistic killed him! He tried to kill me!" Norbert replied. "Zavistic said Gregory did it to himself, he said the boy was in an emotional battleground!" "Where is he? Where is Zavistic?" "Dead!" "WHAT?" "Zavistic died after we got rid of the slug." "Oh my. Now Ibrahim, you have to believe me, he'd been possessed since he returned from his leave." "Fine, but look up at the sky outside, it's full of ash, and you've got to help us." Ibrahim lowered the staff and Norbert got back on his feet. "What do you want us to do?" Jake asked. "We're going to clear the sky," Ibrahim replied. Hecate meanwhile had been released from the castle after the troops moved out, as had Vadas. But neither of them had been given any way of leaving – no offers had been made to evacuate them to the front line or back to Varrock. Vadas was reluctant, intending to get as far away from Misthalin and prosecution as possible. On the other hand Hecate had been desperate to try and travel forward to find Bruce – she didn’t know where he was, or what he was doing, other than a brief mention from a soldier of ‘the attack led by some Zamorakian-hugging wacko’. Vadas tried, but his old apprentice’s will turned out to be too much for the old man, and eventually he resigned to helping Hecate trying to find a way to get to Bruce. “Come on, come on...” she mumbled as they ran through the deserted town. “Face it, my apprentice, we cannot reach him. We would be best to get to Al Kharid and away from these persecutors!” “Have you ever known what it is like to love?” Hecate challenged. Vadas narrowed his eyes at her. “No? Well, I’ve just found out. And it’s telling me what to do. Now you can run into nothingness, into the desert of death, but I’ll be here trying to find Bruce. And you can’t stop me.” Finally, Vadas sighed. “As it happens, I do know. I know the thrills and the joy. But I know something that you don’t know.” “What?” “Loss.” Hecate was speechless. “If I want to look out for my apprentice, then I know what’s best for them. And that is... doing your best to help. I have a few teleportation runes left. I might as well use them.” “I don’t know where Bruce is!” “Hecate – I’m a lot older and wiser than you. And I know a lot of special tricks with which to help out in a situation like this. It’s called Third Age Magic – and it helps.” He put a rune on the floor, and then mumbled in an ancient, long forgotten tongue, “Find the one who we seek.” But Vadas was not as well briefed in ancient magic as he had thought. The spell locked on to Bruce, but for them to emerge next to him the incantation would have had to have been ever so slightly different – and Vadas had forgotten it. As such, they emerged three feet above – a stagnant pool. The two fell from mid air into the shallow pool, splashing and sulking as they tried to crawl out of the rancid water. Hecate was first, and looked up to survey where they were. “Oh no...” she moaned as she realized that they were in the swamp. “Uh oh...” she murmured when the first whiffs of smoke entered her nostrils. “Oh god...” she whispered when suddenly she saw, crawling from the undergrowth, a platoon of crustaceans and other sea creatures. Standing outside the makeshift camp in the mining pit, Bruce was the first person to hear the scream. Immediately he whipped his head round to where the source was coming from. Another scream came, lower pitched, and then the first voice screamed again. The particular pitch and tone of it filtered through his ears, and suddenly: “Hecate...” he turned to look at the camp. His second-in-command had just walked out. “Lieutenant General!” he called out. “Yes sir?” “You’re in command now. I've got a job to do.” “But, sir...!” “No time, man! Gotta run!” Bruce ran over to a waiting armoured Brawler and climbed onto it. He lifted the reins and pulled. “Go!” he cried, “Go!” The beast started to moving, running over to the barricades and leaping over them. Bruce was a man on a mission. Hecate and Vadas held back the creatures with blast after blast of magic, but were running low on runes and energy. Wave after wave emerged from the undergrowth, crawling towards them. Hecate incinerated a group, only to find a group of crabs emerge from behind a nearby tree. “Ow!” Vadas cried. “What?” Hecate asked, turning to look. A small crab was grasping his foot – Vadas kicked it off. “Okay?” she asked. “Fine, fi – LOOK OUT!” Hecate whipped her head around but was then hit hard. Staggering, she looked round to see a bank of tentacles sliding around a tree trunk. A pair of ghostly eyes emerged into the blackness. Abruptly, a volley of tentacles emerged and wrapped themselves around her legs and arms. “Please no,” she whispered, “Not now, my lord...” CRUNCH! Hecate found the tentacles relax. Slowly, she looked up to watch a huge Brawler towering above her, swinging it’s front legs wildly. It slammed into a tree, knocking it over. The Brawler turned, and collapsed forward onto a squad of eels, crushing them. The tentacles binding Hecate retreated, and the moment they were off her the Brawler slammed a massive foot onto the appendages, squashing them. The sea creatures stopped, and started to retreat. The Brawler collapsed back onto it’s front feet, and turned to face the two. A small figure straddled it’s back. “You alright?” Bruce asked. Hecate stood, speechless. “You’re... how did you...?” “Don’t ask,” Bruce told her. “Come on, we’re burning the swamp to ashes to clear a way for the army. And I’m in command of a whole Division. Don’t ask either. Well come on, do you want to be barbecued?” The two hopped up onto the Brawler’s back, Vadas clutching onto the armour, Hecate wrapping her arms around Bruce’s body. “Come on, beast, let’s go!” he yelled at the creature. It reared up, turned around, and started to run back through the trail of carnage Bruce had left, back towards the army, and the world’s only chance of rescue. Tarqinder, Tony and Mark stood before the gates of Falador. The red mist drifted freely above the city, and it was Tony who noticed the swarm. "Anyone got a tinderbox?" Tony asked. Tarqinder removed one from his pocket. "You still carry a tinderbox in your pocket?" Mark asked. "Yes, what's wrong with that?" Tarqinder replied. "Shut it!" Tony hissed. He retrieved a match from the small white box and struck it on a piece of wood lying on the floor nearby which immediately burst into flames. "We've got company!" Mark exclaimed. The swarm of insects dived down towards the group in a v-formation, but upon the sight of fire they lost their organised attack mode and turned into a shapeless cloud. The group dodged them time after time, managing to burn some of them with the flames. "Choke on fire!" Tony snapped pulling out Metallian's damaged lava launcher from inside his clothing. He managed to hold on to the weapon, but it was not easy holding such an awkward lava-firing cannon while trying ot hang on to a whip as well. "This one's for Darako!" Tony yelled, pulling the launcher's trigger, blasting a large ball of hot lava at the mist. The creatures writhed as the fire spread throughout and they retreated into the sky. "I think that taught them," Mark grinned. "But it didn't teach them," Tony sighed observing a platoon of lobsters which were climbing over the wall towards them. "Damn, that was the last piece in the launcher!" "And there's still more Red Mist heading towards us!" Mark gasped. Seers' Village was silent, the Seers had vanished and the flax field sat empty, the usual workers were nowhere to be seen, or the merchants which bought the plants. "It's completely dead here," Dancus noted. "The last time I was in Seers' was-" Raef was interrupted. "Now's not the time for a story Raef." Dancus glimpsed a group of men and women lying in rags against abandoned buildings. Some were with children, some were alone, and some were still burning fires to keep themselves warm. "Look at it all," Dancus sighed. The clouds gathered above the Village, and the light rain began to turn harder. It dampened everything, including people's spirits. The fire was put out by the rain, and it was left smoking, yet the people who had avoided capture still used the smoke to warm their hands. "Remember I said it's no time for stories? Well I think it's time for a speech," Dancus said. Raef walked over to the group, his clothes were as dirty as theirs now thanks to the rain and dirt everywhere. "Come with us," Raef said. "Who are you?" asked a man with curly hair, all tattered and dirty. "I'm Si- I'm Raef, I used to live in Falador until this happened." "You could afford travel to here?" "Is he rich?" asked a woman next to him. "No, no, I just know some people who can help," Raef replied. "We don't want your help, what can you do to help us, any of us?" asked the man. "There's more than just me and Dancus here, there's a whole army of us, scattered across the kingdoms, we are an army, we are hope and freedom, and we are heroes," Raef said. "And if you give a damn about this world you'll join us, because we're going to attack Ardougne and try to wipe those creatures off the face of Kandarin and then the world. If we don't do it now they'll gain a complete foothold and then you'll become food or slaves or Saradomin knows what. Help us, or die, it's those choices, we can't do it in our numbers." "Well what do we have to fight with? We only hold our rags now!" "We have weapons, explosive potions, we just need people to wield and throw them; now, are you coming?" The man got to his feet, as did other people. "My name's William, and it's an honour to meet you," the man announced, brushing dirt off of him. "The defeat of Sharkros begins now!" Dancus exclaimed. Raef, Dancus and their new comrades all stood in the rain of Seers' Village. "We are all going to be heroes now," Dancus said, and he directed them in the direction of Hemenster. Jake watched the wizards around him, all carrying spellbooks and staffs, flicking through them for the best charms to clear away the ash outside. He and Iyla were sat by a window, but they could not see out of it due to the ash, and the streets below were becoming increasingly darker. "They don't know what they're looking for," Jake grumbled. "And you do?" Iyla asked. "Yes, I do!" "Are you just showing off to me and your parents?" "I never show off." "You'll make a fool of yourself in front of all these noble and respectable wizards, they've all trained for far longer than you." "I don't care, they don't have common sense." "You're all talk, I bet you couldn't find the spell they're looking for." "Never underestimate me, I survived Ardougne, and we're all going to survive this. It's been ages, and I'm getting irritated with all this page flicking, it's time I showed them how it's done." Jake got to his feet and ran up to Ibrahim who was looking through an especially thick book. "What spell are you looking for?" Jake asked. "I don't think even you would know it," Ibrahim replied. "Come on Ibrahim, when I managed to group tele the wizards away from the ogres I knew the spell!" "That was a basic teleport, and there were only about nine of us being teleported very short distance." "Is the spell a weather manipulating one?" "Of course it is." "I've done plenty of studying of weather manipulation, mainly because it's more interesting than most others, let me take a look in the book." "Very well." Ibrahim gave Jake the book, and he flicked through it until he found something. "There!" Jake exclaimed. Ibrahim stared at the page, the spell was referred to as an Elemental Clearance, to be used to move objects using the elements. "Elemental clearance! That could work!" "Well it's better than nothing." Tony barged Tarqinder and Mark into the gates of Falador, and closed them quickly. The Red Mist did not chase them, for their duty was to make sure no one got in or out. If they were distracted, more could sneak in. Water came up to their waists, as they stared around. It was still raining heavily, and there was not a person in sight. Many stores had been destroyed, and Taqinder noticed small fish squirming around their ankles. Tarqinder was going to bring his foot to crush them, when Tony stopped him. "Kill them, and you bring any unwanted attention to us. Besides, these are just the new citizens of the empire, not soldiers" Tony said sternly. The trio wandered into the bank, and climbed up the ladder. They were surrounded by most of the citizens, scared and hungry. "Excuse me, but where is everybody else?" Mark asked a man. "The other bank is full of people, the White Knights Castle has a few, and the rest are in their scattered homes to the east of here" the man replied. "I've gotta go to the castle!" Tony said quickly to Tarqinder and Mark. "Why? That castle has been besieged by Sharkros!" Mark replied. "Exactly. I have a plan, and the Edicts had a plan. I'm going to carry out that plan and bring this madness to an end" Tony said in a strange tone. "Then do not leave us behind! We shall assist you!" Tarqinder said bravely. Mark reluctantly nodded. "Whatever. Just don't get in the way!" Tony said. The trio ran back down the ladder and into the general direction of the castle. Tony drew his flail, as his comrades drew their weapons. They expected trouble, and their expectations were just about right. Hammerhead sharks appeared out of nowhere and started ferociously biting. They were joined by other smaller species of shark, who joined the frenzy. Mark had started to bleed, that's why. "You idiot! Now we're in for some chop!" Tony sneered at Mark. "What? I can't help getting cut!" "Be quiet, both of you! We have an opening from the battle. If you notice the sharks, it looks like they are in a frenzy, and have forgotten about us completely!" Tarqinder said smugly, as he ran into the castle doors, with his other two following. Dancus and Raef met Raiah at the front of the store, Kroak had got his men and Lady Vile to bring as many explosive potions as they could. The group of assistant fighters were handed potions by Kroak's team, and they looked slightly bewildered. "Be careful, if you drop them or even bang them slightly then BANG! We all go up in smoke, so be very careful," Kroak said to the fighters. "They're not stupid," Raef said. "I don't care, I'm not taking any chances." "Who put you in charge?" "Guys! Just stop it, we can't get argumentative with the task at hand," Dancus said. "Come on, we can start making our way south now, are you sure there isn't more ash to come Kroak?" Raiah asked. "No, no, it's thinly coated the floor, but it looks like the south took it worst, in the direction of Yanille. Our problem is the sea slugs, Mallum's lot are still about," Kroak answered. "The Market is a complete mess, the stalls have been smashed to pieces thanks to that storm." "Come on, let's get good ol' Kandarin back together," Dancus said, fakely. The group began to march in the direction of Ardougne, and Dancus felt a chill run up his spine as he remembered the last time he'd marched to war in Ardougne. There was a tremendous blast, the sky above Yanille was hit by the Elemental Clearance. A hole was formed in the cloud of ash, and a beam of light shot through causing the Yanillian people and visitors to cover their eyes due to the glare. "We did it! The ash is clearing!" Norbert exclaimed. "Sorry I doubted you," Iyla said to Jake. "No problem, for a minute I even doubted myself," he quipped in response. The ash was drifting further and further apart, but it had not gone unnoticed, and a group of crustaceans began crawling over the Yanille wall. "Runes at the ready!" Ibrahim ordered. "They're armed!" one of the crab soldiers screeched. The crabs came to realize that their spears and shields were no match for the band of wizards. "I guess we're not as strong as we thought!" Jake called with a grin on his face, launching a death blast at a crab who was not prepared and blasted into the bank behind it. It quickly got to its feet, but more blasts followed, and soon the wizards had the whole platoon of crabs fleeing for their lives. They screeched and called out to each other, clicking their pincers as if signalling danger to each other. Norbert, Jake, Ibrahim and Orca managed to blast most of them, and killed a few, but they had done what they needed to; for now. "We need to get out of here before this town becomes flooded with sea life," Orca suggested. "We can go to Ardougne, with any luck we'll find more fighters there," Norbert replied. Guthix's eyes opened. He had made his decision. His energy field dissipated, as he saw the battle below him. Hundreds of soldiers were slaughtering animals, and from Guthix's point of view, this didn't look good. But the sea life started cheering and making noises when they saw Guthix. Every human gulped, and backed off slowly. Guthix hovered away from the swamp in anger. He had to find Sharkros and inform him of his decision. Those poor spawn of mine, beaten destroyed by the ones who promised to look after Gielinor Guthix thought, They will pay. They will be forced to open their eyes. Ominous gray clouds hung over Ardougne. Mother Mallum had entrapped the city with her gastropod forces. Lightning strikes bolted the buildings as a new cloud of ash slowly moved toward the city. Ardougne was fast becoming a hellhole. "Are you sure we can do this, Dancus?" said Lady Vile, peering nervously into the swirling winds of debris and the trails of slug goo. "One storm?" he said, "Why Raiah, her Master, and I fought off a hurricane only but a week ago!" Dancus' fake bravery was beginning to test him to produce. Here he was, willingly walking into a city where he had already died. Twice! Regardless, he clutched an explosive potion in his right hand and unsheathed his sword with his left, in the backwards . "You're left handed?" Raiah asked. "Ambidextrous." Dancus replied. "Well, this is it. Ardougne." The group had arrived at the main gate, on which was written with blood 'dOWn Wi+H T3Rr3StRiALz.' It's almost as if a mass of demented kindergartners invaded Ardy, Dancus thought. He pushed open the gate, and he and his team jumped into the swirling vortex of terror, at the heart of the Oceanic Empire. Sea slugs were lining the southern entrance to Ardougne, they watched the wizards who advanced towards them and launched an attack. "Death to the mollusks!" exclaimed Jake, death blasting a group of them. A sea slug jumped on to Norbert who was lashing out at it to get it off. "Mollusc retracto!" exclaimed Orca who dropped some runes to the floor. The mollusk was immediately pulled off of him and flung into the wall of a building, killing it instantly. "I was saved, by a Zamorakian!" Norbert shrieked in delight, "maybe you demon worshippers aren't so bad after all!" "Thanks, always good to know I'm a decent demon worshipper," murmured Orca who fended off attack from a larger slug who was jumping up at him. "These things keep on coming!" moaned Iyla as she crushed one with a staff. One of the wizards who had accompanied them had turned a familiar yellow, he looked straight at Norbert with his dark eyes, lifting his staff preparing to blast him. "Oh Vandiga, I am sorry," Norbert sighed, before blasting his old colleague to the ground. The group began to advance into the Market where they saw other people before them, some wore armour and fought with swords while others threw explosive potions. "Dancus Frumac!" Jake exclaimed. "The telekinetic one?" asked Mrs. Rottham. "That's the one!" "We've heard plenty about you!" she called out across the battlefield. "Thank you!" Dancus called back, slamming an explosive potion at a nearby building which had slugs crawling up it. One of the runaways from Seer's Village dashed into the middle of the battlefield. "Mallum's on her way!" he exclaimed, before being pulled backwards by a large slug who snapped his neck. "Is it me or are they getting bigger?" Raiah asked. The wizards launched spell after spell at the mollusks, throwing them into the ash covered stalls which had been overturned in the storm. It was at this point that the rain became overthrown by the last blasts of ash, which were unfortunately the strongest. "Ash!" yelled Orca who shielded his eyes. The dark dirt hammered down on the battleground, obscuring the vision of humans and sea slugs alike. The mollusks used it to their advantage, and latched on to the backs of some of Dancus' group who were running out of explosive potions. "We're going to die," Norbert murmured to himself as he fell to his knees, barely able to move. Sea slugs were advancing as the fighters were being rendered powerless by the ash, each one coughing and choking as they inhaled it. At this point, a large hideous shape appeared to the west as Mother Mallum slithered into the Market, dragging several human corpses with her. Hundreds of tiny sea slugs were following, each one preparing to jump on to the necks of the several victims in the Market. "Victory at last! You pathetic uprights can finally be of use to your world, the Oceanic Empire prevails and I claim Kandarin as my own!" Mallum shrieked in a horrific voice. "Not over my dead body!" Kroak yelled as he dashed into the Market with his troops and Raef in pursuit, each armed with either arrows or swords. "What is the meaning of this rebellion?" Mallum asked angrily, moving out of the way to allow her largest offspring to attack the warriors. Kroak's group struck the slugs down with sharp swords, murdering the slugs mercilessly. Blades were slammed into them as they were left injured. One managed to pounce on and kill one of them, but Raef soon killed it with a rune dart. In Mallum's distraction, the wizards and Dancus' group managed to gain the upper hand, and Jake managed to cast some basic elemental spells to increase visibility. "Kill them! Kill them all! Don't let one get away!" Kroak exclaimed. "Get out of my city before I personally devour you!" Mallum yelled as she grabbed one of Dancus' men. "Actually, I think you'll find this is my city," Raef stated, as he flung a dart at her, injuring her. There were mollusks everywhere now, as all of the Ardougnese attackers advanced on the Market, each one aiming to kill and possess as many humans as they could, and there were many possessed now. "We need fire!" Raiah called to Dancus. "Let's use the last explosive potions then, set them off and use the flames," Dancus replied, dodging an angered slug. "Too risky, they're dangerously reactive and we'd be as scorched as the Wilderness!" "I see what you mean," Dancus murmured, turning to a building which the potion had hit; it was covered in flames which shot out in any direction. "Is fire what you need?" Jake asked. "Oh dear, this sounds like trouble," Dancus murmured. "Hey! I've been practicing!" he exclaimed grabbing runes form his pockets, "Pyro Ignitius!" Jake managed to produce a weak wave of fire as he'd said the chant slightly wrong, but Dancus still managed to light a splintered piece of wood from an overturned stall with it. "Everyone! Grab some wood!" Dancus called out. "No! Not fire! Put it down at once!" Mallum shrieked. The ash had become much lighter now and the true destruction of the battle had become clear as many fighters and wizards lay dead on the floor, with slugs cut apart and leaking out a foul liquid from their wounds. The remaining slugs tried to knock the flaming torches out of people's hands, but most ended up burning themselves. "My children! My children!" she called out as she watched them burn, flicking away one of Kroak's men who tried to attack her. The possessed began to collapse as heat wafted around the Market Square, and thesmaller slugs began to retreat into the streets of Ardougne. The larger slugs were being finished off by Norbert, Orca and the other wizards who blasted them across the battleground, killing each one instantly. "They're getting away!" Kroak exclaimed as he pointed at the smaller ones retreating in the direction of the castle. Kroak and his group pursued them down the street, picking them off one by one with swords and daggers. "They could make this into a sport!" Lady Vile suggested, crushing one with her shoe. "Look! They're getting away!" Kroak snapped angrily. "Not a problem," Jake noted as he strolled up from behind. Jake stood still and watched the tiny monsters slithering in the direction of the Palace's moat. He then pointed his staff at them and sent out death blasts which picked them off, one at a time. Back in the Market Square, the final few slugs were killed and others began to tidy away the mess and remove the bodies. "Where's Mallum gone?" Orca asked. "Damn! She got away!" Norbert replied angrily. "Nice fighting with you," Raef said to Kroak who offered him his hand to shake. "No hard feelings then old chap?" Kroak replied, accepting the gesture. The rain began to stop in Ardougne, leaving a clearer sky. "We should check on Falador sooner or later, they could need our help too," Dancus suggested, dragging the corpse of a woman from Seer's Village away. "They died for a good cause," Raiah said, trying to make Dancus feel better. "I still led them to their deaths, and that is something I will never accept." "Things may be clearer here but the war against the Oceanic Empire isn't over," Mr. Rottham said as he made a fire to burn the sea slug remains on. Away from everyone else, Orca turned to face Norbert. "There's something in the air, I mentioned it to you earlier. It's not just any old magic, it's the magic of Gods. Something very big is happening in Asgarnia, I can feel it in me," Orca said, glancing eastwards in the direction of Falador. Bruce reigned in the Brawler as it passed the barricades of the troops. Immediately he swung off it, as did Hecate and Vadas. Meters away the command tent stood, and he ran into it. “How’s the assault going?” he asked. A group of officers were gathered round a table; he moved over to look. “Skulliard says – oh, General Brysworth. You’re here,” one of the younger officers said. “Would you like...?” “Fill me in on what’s been going on,” he ordered. “Our troops have pushed through nearly all the way to the beach. General Gorschev says that their artillery is ready to fire, in compliance with your plan.” “Excellent. Tell Meyers to give orders to all the units to open fire.” “Yes sir. Comms! The answer is a yes!” A group of men sitting in front of a large metal and stone panel started to press glowing metal pads. “BH Oh-Niner to MS Oh-One, the answer is a yes. Repeat, the answer is yes.” And ten minutes later Bruce, Vadas and Hecate were standing up on the edge of the cliff, watching as row after row of trebuchets and catapults launched glowing rocks into the sea. As they impacted they caused massive explosions that were far too big for their size. “Rune bombs. The most revolutionary idea yet.” Bruce looked out at the chaotic coastline, at the continuous series of explosions. “Beats those lava launchers any day.” “I’m surprised that your ‘benevolent’ Saradomin could bless you with the idea for such destructive potency,” Vadas commented shrewdly. “Not my god,” Bruce countered, “And besides, I can’t see that much difference anyway.” “It’s almost unbelievable,” Hecate said, “That we’re slaughtering animals this way.” “They’re a threat to us,” Vadas told her, “And as is the human way any threat must be prematurely suppressed or immediately exterminated. That’s the way things work.” They watched in silence as another barrage of rune bombs impacted on the surface. The water was turning blood-red as far beneath the waves the rune bombs were obliterating the sea creatures below. Every now and then another bloated animal corpse would drift up to the surface. Surely, Bruce thought, the end is near. But just moments later he saw, emerging from the water, a huge horde of sea creatures in a single, massed group. Stunned, Bruce could only watch as the vast army heaved itself up the beach. Then he composed himself. Whipping out a com rune, he yelled into it. “Meyers! This is Brysworth! Do you copy?” “Yes, Brysworth, this is General Meyers here. What is it?” “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” “What?” “The beach!” Bruce screamed anxiously, “Look at the beach!” There was a pause for a few moments. “Holy – get all the troops you've got to open fire! Now!” Bruce didn't wait to sign off. He slipped the com rune away, and ran into the command tent. “Listen, you lot, we've got a major problem here. Get everyone you can over here and fire on that beach! Don’t ask – just get them here! NOW!” In moments officers were speaking into com runes, ordering battalions and companies forward to the area. Three minutes later the first of the soldiers had arrived. Six minutes later they were all there and ready to open fire. But the horde of sea beasts was already spilling off the beach and overrunning the forward positions down by the coast. “OPEN FIRE!” Bruce bellowed at the assembled troops, who stood facing the beach, “PICK OUT YOUR TARGETS AND OPEN FIRE! NOW!” As the troops set up their weapons and began to pelt the sea creatures with arrows and bolts, Bruce turned round and waited nervously, biting at his fingertips. Would his carefully though-out plan come to nothing? The tentacles had come from a nearby house. Kroak and his troupe were valiantly fighting against a beast dubbed "Kraken". Dancus, Raef and the others tried to intervene, but a tentacle smashed down a house nearby. The dwelling was reduced to rubble, and there was so much it blocked them from joining. Tyran fired poison darts at the beak of the monster, but they seemed to be doing nothing. Tyran was then devoured quickly, mercifully. Empriro charged angrily, using his Dragonite battleaxe to block its teeth, but he too fell as he was hurled away. Lady Vile was suffocated by lots and lots of ink, and she choked violently to death. This left Kroak alone. Kroak sighed sadly. He knew what would happen next - he foresaw this moment a very long time ago. He grabbed four explosion potions, and smiled. He jumped into the toothy maw of the beast, and an explosion soon followed. The creature started exploding, until black bile covered the whole city. The rubble had cleared, and the remaining citizens of Ardougne cheered for victory. "Not now..." Bruce pleaded silently, "Not now..." The arrows flew into the midst of the swarm of sea creatures, but to no visible effect. Some of the larger beasts would visibly drop dead, but the effect of it on the scuttling masses of mollusks and crustaceans were unnoticeable. Even redirecting the rune bombs hadn't helped. Minutes earlier the barrier by the beach had been overrun - the plan seemed doomed to falling apart at the last moment. "Ash!" Hecate suddenly cried. "What?" Bruce and Vadas asked in one voice. "The clouds - they're filled with ash, aren't they? We can try and release that from the clouds and cover the creatures with it! Hopefully, it'll choke them, cover their gills, slow them down..." "That's a Brysworth of an idea!" Buce exclaimed. "Vadas? Can it be done?" "I think I know a spell which can do it," he replied, "Give me a moment. And any runes you've got." "Right." Bruce turned around and ran back to the command tent. A young man, about nineteen, sat upon a Brawler dragging a large supply of runes. "Excellent..." Bruce muttered. "Hey! You! On the Brawler!" "Yeah?" the man replied. "What sort of runes you got there?" "What sort of runes haven't I got? Why?" "I need them all. Now." "Well, the person I was delivering them too says he doesn't need them anymore - have the whole lot." "Oh, great. Thanks, er..." "My name's Drauss!" "Drauss. Thanks, kid." Bruce ran over and as the man jumped off he started to pull the cart over. "Vadas! Here are your runes!" Vadas looked round, and smiled. "Excellent. Bring them over." He took them out and carefully grouped them. Then he started to chant quietly. "Let's hope this works," Hecate said. Tony lead Tarqinder and Mark to the top floor of the castle. They saw at least 20 citizens in this room alone. They also saw the White Knights tied up, and half a shark in a moving box. "Ahh, it's you three. It's very nice of you to drop in" Sharkros sneered. "What, you expect us to talk?" Tarqinder jibed back. "No, dragon slayer, I expect you to give up, and then die!" Sharkros cackled. Tony reached into his armoured pocket, and pulled out the Relic of Araz and a strange ball of energy. "Wanna know what these are?" Tony asked. "I personally don't care!" Sharkros replied boredly. "These are the energies of the Ark of Eternal Damnation, rolled up into a glass ball. Source of powerful magic, and so is this Relic. Both have explosive potential, and can spread their energies beyond the city. Legends say these items were handcrafted by the Gods themselves during the Third Age." Tony was in fact stalling for time. Tarqinder and Mark ushered everyone out and untied the knights, and they all ran out, save for Taqinder and Mark. Sharkros didn't look at all bothered. "I knew you were coming! And I don't care about those people - they will be killed outside!" Sharkros snapped. "I haven't finished my story yet! Anyway, something cataclysmic happens when both are smashed together. The energies combine, making an explosion, and can affect certain life forms. Now, I ask you to stop this invasion now, or you will pay in blood!" "I think you're bluffing! You couldn't kill me! You don't have the guts!" Sharkros shouted, obviously concerned. "Try me! This ends now!" Tony roared. "You'd kill yourself, and your little friends!" Sharkros stammered, trying not to look scared. "Tarqinder and Mark, get out!" he hissed. They stood still, but he pushed them down the staircase and locked the door. "So, it's your call. Call off the invasion, or die!" "You may kill me, but my empire will live on in my name!" "There won't be much of an empire left when the resistance strikes!" Tony started bluffing. "Resistance?" "Um, yeah. All human armies in the world are marching to our aid, valiantly slaying your kind. They're also formed alliances with Goblins, Ogres, Trolls, Pyrak, Aviantese, Vampyres, Fremenniks, Gnomes, Dwarves and Demons. Even if you sea monsters outnumber us land dwellers, we will persist, and in the end, topple your empire from the largest whale to the smallest plankton!" Sharkros started firing lightning bolts at Tony, but he dodged. "I will never surrender! You may destroy me, but you are trading me in for a worse evil. The lord of balance shall then descend to purge Gielinor of those who are destroying it with fire!" "There are two words I've always wanted to say before I die - BOOM HEADSHOT!" Tony cried, as he smashed the glass ball and the Relic itself, unleashing a golden energy and a black energy. The two formed a vortex in the air, and then fired in all directions and exploding. The whole room was rocked to its foundations, and it collapsed onto the bottom floor. The citizens of Falador cheered, as they saw the sea life retreating back into the ocean. The energies had started to leak out, and the Red Mist was getting incinerated by them. The energies then dissipated into nothing. "Tony? TONY!" Tarqinder shouted, searching the rubble. But he found no bodies. All he found was a whip, the broken shell of the relic, a shattered glass ball and Sharkros' travelling machine. "He sacrificed himself for the world!" Mark gasped in shock. "And he took down Sharkros at the same time. Not many people can do that" Tarqinder replied sadly. The clouds fell. Instantly, they dissolved into ash and water, and plummeted from the sky. Like a snowstorm white flecks whirled around, catching on the sea creatures. Some was blown onto the shoreline and the soldiers there, but not enough to cause major injury. But for the sea creatures it was lethal, clogging gills and getting into bony joints, slowing and suffocating the beasts. Amidst a final volley of arrows and magic blasts, the creatures stopped in their tracks. Most of them stayed perfectly still - dead. A cheer rose up from the assembled soldiers as only a few creatures began their lonely walk back to the sea. And even these were picked off with well-aimed arrows and spells, pinning crabs to whale hulks and breaking open orca corpses. The waves washed up red, and started the long process of lifting and carrying the dead creatures back into their home - the murky sea. "Victory!" Bruce cried "Victory!" A renewed cheer came up from the soldiers. He yelled out. "Excellent work, soldiers! We've brought peace to the world!" He whooped for joy, and as he did so the cheering and celebrations crept back along the lines of the Misthalanian Royal Army, all the way to Lumbridge, where Meyers and a top group of generals heard the news - though not without it's changed. "Is it true?" Meyers asked over the com rune a while later, "Is it like the Northern Lands at the shore? Did they send up their general to personally surrender." "Sorry sir," Bruce replied, "You've been caught in a game of Catherby Whispers." "Maybe I have. Well done, Brysworth - you've done a stunning job." "Thank you, sir." Bruce turned off the com rune, and turned to Hecate and Vadas. "That's it. We've won." Hecate smiled happily and moved closer to Bruce. "I was right all along, see?" she said, "About you being a fine general." "I never doubted you," Bruce replied. "Aw. Come on, let's go back to base." "Aren't you forgetting someone?" Bruce asked. "Vadas - what will you do now?" "Oh, I don't know - a little here, a little there - I've got to find my apprentice." "Well, good luck with that," Bruce said. He turned to Hecate, and with their fingers entwined, walked off. He spared one final look at Vadas, and with a respectful nod, turned and continued onward. Vadas replied this with a wise narrowing of his eyes and a faint smile. But in those eyes was more than wisdom and happiness - burning in the corner was a tiny pinprick of deviousness. He took out a tele-rune, looked around, savoring the chaos. Throwing the tele-rune down he mumbled something and then jumped into it. Vadas disappeared. "Homebound." "So, what do we do now?" Hecate asked. They were sitting by the riverbank, watching the water jump across the rocks and around the bridge. No fish swam in the river, but in time, they both knew, this would once again be teeming with aquatic life. "Well," Bruce answered, "We go around and help people put their lives back together. Varrock's blockaded, Crandor is virtually nonexistent, Karamja is underwater, and last time I saw Asgarnia it was in ruins. We need to get over there and help people out. Jeez, we gotta check if the Carters are okay." "And then?" Hecate asked, looking over the far bank of the river. "I don't know," Bruce replied. He paused, then sighed. "The world's been turned upside down. Twice. We're not in the same land we used to be. Just this past year thousands have died, and people are tiring of that. This new technology is just going to make things even worse for everyone - especially since soon the fingers will be pointing, and Zamorakians will take the blame as usual. I just think... I just think that we all deserve better than this." Hecate looked at Bruce. "You'll be hard pressed in times like these." "The economy has already been damaged. Fishing is a goldmine, and now all the major businesses in that line are bust or destroyed. The economy as a whole won't recover for years. All the governments are down, except in Al Kharid and it's not as if they can help out a whole world. We need new, structured fiscal plans for the government, with everyone working to the best of his or her abilities in a society of equality for all. Say..." "What? Say what?" "Early fourth age. A writer, I can't remember his name, he came up with this theory. It was called... socialism. That's it." Hecate got up and looked at him. "Socialism? It's a good idea but it was written a thousand odd years ago. How will people today look at it?" "We've got a lot of time on our hands," Bruce said. "We'll be travelling the world to help out. We can find out about the world, how a socialist philosophy - or our form of it - could be improved upon to make it useful to all. I'm sure I could bring some of my associates to come to agree with it, and spread the word - and then we're on the way to a new and better world." "You've become a visionary, Bruce." They looked into each others' eyes. "Maybe I have. Maybe I'm just trying to make everyone happy." They smiled. "But..." Bruce said as he stood up, "We have to begin somewhere. Shall we?" Hecate stood up. "Whisk me away, adventurer." "Falador." A flash of light, and they were gone. They looked around at the eerie, ruined landscape. "Falador...?" they asked in one voice. Something godly was present in the air, everyone could feel it. As the Faladorians set to rebuild the city, Guthix floated into the city center. Tarqinder and Mark approached the god, whom they recognise. Bruce and Hecate looked up in horror. They were soon joined by Jake, Raef, Dancus, Raiah, Mr. Rottham, Mrs. Rottham, Iyla, Norbert and Orca. "What the-?" Jake was cut off. "Be quiet!" Tarqinder hissed. "Where is Sharkros?" boomed Guthix omnipotently. "Lord Guthix, I am afraid he is dead!" Tarqinder replied. Jake started bowing down without noticing it, it was like he was in some sort of trance "You humans have done worse to this world! You have caused this sudden turn of weather, and not to mention slaughtered millions of innocent animals! My decision was a wise one! Sharkros will not have died in vain, for I will erase all mistakes, mostly humans!" Guthix replied, infuriated. "But you don't understand! Sharkros was evil, and he wanted to conquer the world! Please, a second chance is all we ask! We can stop the weather problem, and make everything right again! We didn't mean to cause harm, in fact we didn't know until a few days ago!" Tarqinder begged. A tentacle grew from Guthix and grabbed Tarqinder, and started probing his mind. He then released Tarqinder, seeing truth in his words. "So, I was deceived! And I am willing to give you a second chance, like I did during the Third Age. It seems this Tony de Fillo lost his life saving his people. He's the type of human I want to see in all of you. Correct your mistakes, humans, and you will live peaceful lives on Gielinor without being attacked by the poor beasts that you slaughter or anything similar. On the matter of the sea life..." Guthix closed his eyes, and a sudden surge of power hit the whole planet. Everywhere, any sea creatures that died during the war were being resurrected and taken back to the seas. "Do not worry, all the minds of the sea creatures have been erased, and they are back to normal. If I didn't resurrect them, the oceans would be extremely unbalanced, with hardly nothing to populate them. Just remember your promises humans. Remember" Guthix smiled, as he faded away from view. He was travelling back to his resting place. A whole crowd of humans joined Tarqinder and Mark, and they all cheered. Bruce and Hecate embraced with Tarqinder and Mark, exchanging stories and planning what to do next. In the cellar of Ardougne Palace, Harmon Reeves opened his eyes to see the world around him. He was alive, and he had never felt so well. "Why I'm alive!" he stated, coughing slightly. "Meep meep!" exclaimed Meep who had stayed near him throughout the invasion. "You are my guardian angel!" The people built a wall in the centre of the city as a memorial to those who died during the war and even the battle of Ardougne. The first name on the wall was Tony de Fillo, followed by Farrell, Darako, TzHaar-Kot-Tok, Lobstorr, Robert Bandano, Phillip Styne, Kroak, Kumthalatta, Henry, Lord Rax, the other Edicts, Lady Vile, Empriro and Tyran. "Rest in peace, friends," Tarqinder said tearfully, as he placed down the flowers by the memorial. "Maybe they're all in heaven right now, looking down at us," Mark sighed sadly. "I hope so. I really do." "Well gentleman, I think we've all learnt a thing or two today, don't you?" Raef asked. "I think I'll try being vegetarian like you, or at least I'll lay off seafood for a while," Mark smiled. "So where are you two going to go now?" "Mark, how about it? Becoming a Slayer?" Tarqinder asked. "I'll think about it. I'll definitely think about it," Mark answered. "My old friends, I'm returning to Yanille with Orca here," Norbert siad. "Now the world might start to accept us Zamorakians," Orca said. "And I've got a vial of Verto Fabrica Nox for Zavistic; we still need him whatever anyone says." "Farewell then you two," Tarqinder said as they waved Norbert and Orca off as they teleported. Jake knelt down, and prayed to Guthix, while Iyla looked at him. "Are you sad?" She asked. "More or less... I mean, I fought with this people in Ardougne, and now half of them are dead" He replied, and pointed to the wall with the names. "Hey!," Exclaimed Iyla. "I know what will make you feel better!, come on, stand up" Jake stood up as she said, and she gave him a big hug and almost broke his ribs. "Uh," He exclaimed. "I really needed that..." "What are you going to do now that this is over?" "I have something to do with my dad, you can call it a 'father-son tradition' if you want" "Can I be around?" "You'd make me lose my concentration..." "But... Will I see you again" "Of course! People must keep good friends around..." "Jake, you have completely grown up" With that, they returned to the castle, where they were going to meet with the scouts and then go back to Varrock. "Hey! How is everybody?" The Colonel greeted to the men of his platoon. Another officer rushed to him and put his sword to the colonel's chest. "You left us here to our deaths! You deserve death!" The officer cried. "...And then I saved your ass from getting kicked, I helped liberate Yanille and Ardougne and then came back, good sir" Rottham said. "He did his job, Dots, now leave him alone" The General said, he had came from Varrock to prize the Colonel for his bravery. Dots put his sword on his belt and stepped back. "Come on, Rottham, let's go to Varrock for your promotion ceremony..." "Promotion?" "Yes, Brigadier, now move your legs! I want to get this done today!" Exclaimed the General while laughing. Raiah Gestoff and Dancus Frumac stood in the middle of the tranquil Falador Square. "Well, I guess this is it," said Dancus. "Yep," said Raiah. "I've got to go find my Master." "Hm." Raiah pulled a teletab out of her satchel and held it in her hands. "Wait!" Dancus yelled. "What?" "You forgot something." They shared a long goodbye hug. Raiah started to weep. "You're almost like family to me..." she stumbled. Dancus dried up her tears with his kerchief and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Now you can go," said Dancus. Raiah once more took out her teletab and broke it in two. She disappeared in the purple light. "Have fun in Hemenster." Dancus himself began to ponder something. Where will I stay? He walked out of the city gate and towards the East. I'll just hope for it. "How's Harmon feeling?" Tarqinder asked. "He's feeling much better, he seemed to recall a few things, among them that somehow they were untouched by the sea life and that Meep stood by him the whole time, he thinks it was Meep who brought him back in the end. I think there's more than meets the eye to your gecko," Raef said. "I'll take that as a compliment," Tarqinder replied. "I'm going back to my exploring, I think I'll take a look at Lletya next, there's this awfully nice elf there who lets me stay with her, Fraiynear here name is." Raef began to walk off, the sun was setting and he was a man with plans, and he also had to see the Carter Family off who had managed to hide in his home the whole time. "We never did find Veedi in the end," Mark noted. "I'm sure she's fine," Tarqinder said. "Come on then; Varrock it is! I think I will try for the Slayers' Union you know." The massive hole in Lumbridge Swamp was resealed when Guthix returned to his resting place. Within the following week, the rebuilding of Ardougne, Lumbridge, Varrock, Keldagrim and Falador had been nearly completed. Everything was in perfect balance and order. That was until three little creatures burrowed unto the surface from the ground. The cute little monsters waddled the surface world for the first time in their lives. They covered their eyes, for they were not used to light. The trio were in Falador, and they hid behind the memorial wall. They spied Tarqinder and Mark with beady little eyes. They started squeaking and making clicking noises. They were speaking in their unique language. As Mark and Tarqinder started to walk away, the creatures followed them, waddling as fast as they can. They were about as big as a dwarf or gnome, but they are a different species. In fact, as a mysterious hooded person noted, their skin was made entirely of rock. The stranger was, ironically, following the creatures. The creatures were leaving small droppings as they run. The stranger picked them up and sniffed them. He then licked one. "Definitely Pyrak" the stranger muttered to himself. He dropped the droppings and kept following the three Pyrak, as they were following Mark and Tarqinder. Several months had come to pass, and not one dangerous storm had struck Gielinor during the time, and fishing had significantly decreased. The time of Wintumber had arrived and the trees were losing their leaves, and remarkably it was peaceful at last, with even the Zamorakians making peace with the Saradominists. The trees were losing their leaves and Varrock was back to its usual ways, without any wars or economic failures affecting it. People were calling it the "Damned Year" due to the misfortune which had occurred throughout, but as the cold breeze blew through the streets there were two men who had gained plenty from these experiences. "Now, I know this is your first major assignment, but just treat as we did with the practice ones, okay?" Tarqinder stated, trying to reassure Mark that he would be fine. "I'll take your word from it; besides, I've seen off Lathas and Sharkros and lived to tell the tale, so hopefully a revenant shouldn't be too much bother," Mark replied with a grin. The two of them smiled, and made their way north in the direction of the Wilderness, and the creatures that awaited them ahead. Whatever would happen though, they would not lose their determination as they were fighting in memory for all those lost friends, and now they could carry those names for as long as they breathed the air.
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