The Search for Power

[Strazio Rockwell]

A low rumbling emanated from the forest. Strazio watched in morbid curiosity as the rumbling crescendo reached its peak. Twisted humans, horrible and disjointed ran to the smell of burning flesh. The soldiers watched in horror as their numbers grew, eventually reaching a couple dozen of the sinister ghouls. THey moved much quicker than their twisted forms seemed capable of, Behind them trees toppeled and a massive hulk of flesh bounded out of the forest. Large and bloated the corpulent monstrosity looked to be a human sewn together from various chunks of flesh and limbs. In one hand it held a massive cleaver and in the other a chain dragging a large hook across the ground. A third massive arm jutted from the side of the abomination and it was bent at an unsettling angle. The creature seemed like it would burst as every massive step sent jiggles throughout it flabby flesh. The ghouls spread out and surrounded the soldiers, their sunken eyes were bright pinpoints in the hazy smoke of the fire.

The monstrous creature spoke with a deep bumbling voice "Hehehe I see they sent out some little pigs to slaughter" he chortled some more and a couple stitches burst, releasing putrid gas. Strazio wasn't used to undead like this, in his realm undead were slow fragile creatures. He took a few steps forward and walked towards the towering behemoth. THe creature laughed some more as Strazio removed his hood and stood no more than a few feet from him. The soldiers watched in awe at the audacity of Strazio.

"What is your name foul creature?" he spoke without fear.

"Gnash" the creature stopped laughing and raised his cleaver high into the air. He quickly brought the blade down, aiming to cleave Strazio straight in half. The speed at which the abomination could move caught Strazio off-guard. Energy surged through his body and he dove to the side, barely dodging the devastating chop. Gnash's strike set the ghouls free and they tore into the soldiers. THe ghouls were ferociously quick and ruthless, despite this the soldiers held their ground. Strazio got to his feet and was rushed by a snarling mass of teeth and claws. Strazio pushed the ghoul away and blasted a hole through it's torso. Gnash swung wildly, using the flat edge of his cleaver as a club. Strazio dashed backwards, dodging the wild swing. Another ghoul charged him and he incinerated the wretched creature with a well placed lance of white energy.

"Come here little pig!" Gnash roared and threw his hook at Strazio. The prime stood his ground and energy began to swirl around his arm. He waited, patiently as the massive hook flew towards him. The hook was only a few feet away and Strazio punched forward releasing a massive bolt of concentrated fury. THe bolt ricocheted off the hook and knocked it off course. Strazio immediatly launched another bolt, directly at Gnash's bloated belly. Gnash recoiled backwards and yelled in discontent as the bolt bored a hole through his body. Another pair of ghouls rushed Strazio and he blasted one away as the other tackled him to the ground. The ghoul slashed through Strazio's cloak and left a gash across his chest. The ghoul cut another line of fire across his shoulder and he yelled in pain and anger. Strazio managed to get both of his hand's under the ghoul's chest and let loose a concussive blast of energy, sending bits of the ghoul flying into the air.

The battle was far from over, but Strazio was feeling battered and was at his breaking point. He forced himself to his feet and stared down Gnash, who was reeling in his hook. Gnash's third hand pressed against his new wound, trying to keep his rotted guts inside his belly. Strazio laughed weakly and Gnash responded in kind with a hearty chuckle.

"I should be the only one laughing here, Prime. I'm not the one that's about to die" he reeled back and readied another throw.

"My name is Strazio Rockwell and I'm the one that's going to blow your head clean off" roiling white-hot energy wreathed itself around Strazio's right arm. Gnash released his hook in a wild overhead arc. Perhaps Strazio was being brave, or maybe he was being stupid, or even more likely he was just pissed off but whatever the reason was he didn't bother to dodge, he didn't even flinch. The hook crashed behind Strazio and Gnash pulled the chain taut. THe hook collided into Strazio's back, piercing through his right side and draping itself diagnolly across his back and over Strazio's left shoulder. Strazio roared in agony and rage as his feet skidded in the dirt and he was pulled forward. Without wasting a beat Strazio brought his left hand up to the chain and shouted one word.

"Shatter!"

The force of the blast splintered the metal link where the chain connected to the hook. His right arm was almost pure energy and through the pain and brought it back.

"My name is Strazio Rockwell and I will not fall " A roaring beam of energy exploded from his arm. Gnash didn't even have time to speak as the devasting beam of energy incinerated his head. The mass of flesh tumbled backwards, crashing onto the ground and spilling guts and rotten flesh across the ground. His stitches and seams ripped open and all sorts of gas and bile poured forth. Strazio fell to his knees, a pool of blood had already begun to form around him. His vision blurred and the sound of battle was distant and muted. With the last of his energy he launched a blast of energy to break most of the hook and heat up what was left, leaving only the large chunk in his abdomen. He hoped that the heated chunk would staunch the bloodflow and he hoped that the soldiers of Darkshire could win the battle. With an anti-climatic thud he fell into the dirt, unconscious and vulnerable.