Demon

The captain turned back and angrily pointed at the ground. Dwarven warriors appeared. He moved his hand again, and yet again, summoning forth creature after creature so that dwarfs, orcs, goblins, skeletons, and even demonic creatures were arrayed. As he prepared his attack Garth in turn gathered his own mana in, building up his strength. He came back up to his feet and walked back to the middle of the circle. His act of defiance caused wild cheering to erupt as Garth stood alone, as if ready to battle the summoned creatures without benefit of magic other than the dagger he now flicked out.

The captain laughed with cold contempt, raised both hands heavenward, and then pointed them straight down. A fissure opened in the ground directly before him. An expectant hush fell over the arena.

A black cloud rushed upward, like steam hissing out from the gates of hell. The shadow swirled about, turning and coiling, and took form.

“A Lord of the Pit!”

Garth turned and looked over his shoulder at Hammen, who was stepping backward in fear.

“Pit Lord! Pit Lord!” The cry thundered from the mob, and those who had bet upon Garth groaned with despair even as they came to their feet to watch the finale of the show.

The demon loomed upward, great clawlike hands stretching out, black mouth gaping open, flame washing over its teeth, its fire red eyes glowing like hot coals in a furnace.

The captain lowered his hands, the demon looking back at him. The captain pointed at the dwarven warriors. The demon, laughing, turned and swept them up in his claws, devouring them as they screamed and yelled. The other creatures summoned by the captain, now realizing that they were called forth as a sacrificial offering to the dark power, tried to move away, but the captain pointed at them in turn, freezing them in place.

After finishing his repast the demon, with heavy, lumbering steps, advanced on Garth. His mighty clawed hands reached out. Garth, in turn, raised his hands and a river of ice seemed to pour from the heavens, striking the monster on the arms, the ice instantly turning to hot steam. The Lord of the Pit, roaring with pain, staggered back.

The captain next pointed at the berserkers and the creature devoured them in turn. His strength redoubled by the feast, the demon charged again, howling with mad fury. Garth waved his hands in reply and instantly he was encased in holy armor. The monster tried to sweep him up in his grasp but each time his hands touched the armor there was a flash of steam. For long minutes they struggled thus until the demon’s power slowly started to abate and the armor in turn became translucent and then disappeared. The mob was now at a fever pitch as the Lord turned away, its features contorted with rage, and started back toward the captain.

Quickly the captain pointed next at the orcs he controlled. The demon pounced upon them, devouring them as they screamed and writhed. Garth did nothing, watching the captain’s actions. He had conjured forth a creature that was almost beyond his ability to control. He had to keep feeding it in order to keep it under his command. The captain waved his hand yet again, attempting to conjure up more replacements for the creature’s feast. But this time all he could bring forth was half a score of plague rats before he lowered his head in exhaustion.

The Lord of the Pit, satiated for the moment, turned back to attack Garth once more. It started to advance and Garth replayed again a power he had used before, quickly erecting a wall of living trees and then stepping behind it. The Dark Lord approached the woods, brimming with hatred for a creation of such tranquility. Rearing up, it started to slash at the woods with its mighty claws, as Garth reinforced his barrier of protection. The monter’s hooting roars thundered around the arena, drowning out even the wild, insane cheering of the mob which was beside itself with rapture over such a marvelous display. The demon finally tore into the line of trees, grabbing hold of the trunks. It howled with pain as if the silvery bark was made of nettles of pain. It tore the trees up, flinging them aside, crashing through to the other side.

And then, exhausted, it sank down for a moment. Turning, it started to lumber back toward its master’s side of the circle, looking at the remaining feasts the captain had set out in order to maintain control.

Garth leaped forward, hands raised, and within seconds the demons, skeletons and rats that the captain had prepared for the demon were gone, vaporized by Garth’s frenzied attack.

The captain hesitated, shocked by the suddenness of Garth’s onslaught. The demon reared up, howling with rage that his meal had been denied. The captain quickly raised his hands but his own mana was drained in the act of creating the monster and the meals necessary to control it. He pointed, trying to bring forth another creature. There was a thin pop of light and the only thing that appeared was a lone tiny sprite which, at the sight of the Lord, took wing and flew straight up and away. The demon, its mouth lolling open, watching the sprite fly away, then it fixed its gaze on the captain.

With a loud cry it lunged forward. There was a brief flash, as if a circle of protection was being raised. Garth turned and looked toward the throne, where Zarel was standing, his arms raised. Hammen, jumping up and down, pointed toward Zarel in turn and a wild, hysterical cry rose from the mob at the blatant interference on the part of the Grand Master. Zarel, looking around, dropped his hands, and the circle of protection disappeared.

The captain, screaming in terror, was lifted up into the air. The Lord of the Pit, gloating over its prey, pulled in opposite directions, tearing the man in half and then devouring him in two quick gulps. As the life force of the captain disappeared the power which he controlled ended as well. With a flash of fire and smoke the demon disappeared.

***

Arena, Chapter 11