Cracks could be heard as I stretched my neck, the chainsaw’s revving getting quieter. The poisonous fumes were of no consequence as long as you could hold your breath. The toxic gas’ small three meter radius was not large enough to prove a threat. The disgusting bile that the creature was composed of was of much more pressing concern, as it had the stench and deformed figure/face to make weaker minded creatures release whatever’s in their guts as they get close, thereby inhaling the fumes.
That, however, no longer mattered, as the hideous creature was no longer squirming and fidgeting. In fact, barely anything resembling a humanoid was left – only a puddle of bile on the stone floor. The cleanup process would prove rather annoying though, as it was in the middle of the sole entrance to these caves. Oh well, it was somebody else’s problem now.
Near me I see Doren standing there in a combat stance with sword in hand. At least that would be the view from a casual passerby’s perspective. It’d be more accurate to say it was a sword standing there in a combat stance with a forumite in hand. It took quite a bit of time to figure out what this not-so-lifeless object was, but after years of careful observation an accord was struck between us. You could call it an alliance but it was less than that. It was more of a… mutual non-backstabbing agreement. There were simply far too many parties in Necrothreat for us not to afford to watch each other’s backs.
Still, that didn’t mean I trusted the sword called Rosywander, and it likely felt the same about me. This was confirmed by the fact that Rosywander and his host hurled themselves at me, with Rosywander the sword appearing to transform into a deformed black animalistic head armed with a row of razor sharp fangs. Sighing, I raised the chainsaw into the mouth of my associate and as he clamped down on it, I pressed the button on the side of my handle and a guttural sound could be heard inside Rosywander’s mouth as the chainsaw started revving up. I looked into Rosywander’s host’s eyes. The eyes looked quite determined and sharp, as if something is driving him forward a singular goal.
A dozen of seconds later, the revving quieted down once more and Rosywander opened his pseudo-jaw releasing the chainsaw. A rather surprisingly jolly voice sounded from the black apparition.
“Thanks for the teeth brushing, partner. Another day of hard work done. What’s next on the agenda? Getting rid of that twat Rogue? A drink with the Red Hammer? Or, swordy gasp, a romp with Arx?”
Immediately the chainsaw went back between the teeth and started revving up .
“You overstep your bounds, Rosywander. Do not forget that we are merely partners, not friends. The moment yours or my usefulness is gone, somebody is getting backstabbed. However,” the chainsaw’s mechanical sound increased “if you want to have a go right here and now I will oblige you.”
Rosywander bit down on Apiks’ weapon and it began revving up at maximum speeds. The place where the eyes were supposed to be on the apparition’s face started to glow red with increasing intensity. After a minute of Apiks and Rosywander staring down each other, the sword’s crimson eyes of fire reached their apex and over the sound of the chainsaw a guttural sigh could be heard as the eyes changed to a blue color. The revving up stopped as the jaws opened up again.
“Thanks again, partner. Some of the creature’s horns got stuck in here. They’ve been reduced to a rather tasty paste thanks to that nice toy of yours. Besides, don’t worry about your back. I still have to pay you back for replacing me with a dud during the Red Hammer’s rule. He nearly got me along with that crown of yours.”
Apiks throws Rosywander a stony look and shakes his head. With a sigh he starts walking back towards the fortress, ignoring the cackling sword behind him. Just as Apiks reached the stairs, he looks back and calls out to the evil sword.
“The next thing on the agenda is operation T.H.R.O.N.E., meaning that yes, it’s time for a drink with the Red Hammer. Now get to work, Rosywander, I need those artifacts you’ve hidden.”