User blog:Ikoter/The Lion

THE LION



Chapter 1:

“S-Somebody help-” But no one could.

They stood, ravaged with fear, as their comrade had his life squashed right out of him. This beast was savage.

A monster bearing the shape of a golden lion, but three times as big. Angelic wings were visible above its back, and a tail of scale and spikes.

There was no hurting this monster, there was no stopping this monster, there was nothing…

“R-Run!” One of the remaining assailants stated, and they all dispersed.

The chase began, as the gigantic monster leaped and crushed. Biting. Tearing. Smashing. Pounding.

The small group of over confident bandits was easily annihilated.

The beast stood looking. For a very, very long time, it had been assaulted by humanoids. All wishing to gain that which it guards. A relic.

A tomb… of its former master. The writing on it, though it was degraded by time, could still be read: ‘Lionheart’.



Chapter 2:

The burial site holds much gold into it, as such, the beast was left to protect it. It sat down after the killing. It needs to recover its stamina in case more pillagers show up.

Doing the biding of its master, the beast killed everything that came close to the tomb.

<p class="MsoNormal">Light started emanating from the grave, as all the gold surrounding the tombstone vanished, turning into energy and digging into the earth. Reaching…

<p class="MsoNormal">There was a sudden burst of power beneath the earth, and the golden lion stood up. Its sight pointed at the whole.

<p class="MsoNormal">It arose. From within came the golden shape of a man, being carried up by the wind and placed on the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">The beast approached, bringing its nose to sniff.

<p class="MsoNormal">The man gently patted it, which relaxed in response. Happiness grew within it, as what was lost has now returned.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You’ve been guarding me. Good boy.” The monster grunted.

<p class="MsoNormal">As the man patted its nose, the monster fell down and turned with its belly at the sun. He crouched and continued playing with his beast, caressing and tickling it.

<p class="MsoNormal">It was shaking its tail left and right, at the joy of finding its master again after so long.

<p class="MsoNormal">The man looked back at his tomb stone. All the gold which had been used in its construction was now gone, it having been absorbed by the ‘spell’ to resurrect him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Up now.” The monster jumped, regaining its standing form.

<p class="MsoNormal">The man reached back into his grave, and grasped. In each hand he pulled out a black great sword trimmed with gold.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 3:

<p class="MsoNormal">Looking at the surroundings, he could see a graveyard of weapons thrusted into the ground or simply lying down.

<p class="MsoNormal">For however long he had slumbered, his beast protected him from everything which marched in this direction.

<p class="MsoNormal">The bones were proof his pet feasted on the corpses, like any predator would, but how many bones had it swallowed?

<p class="MsoNormal">The number of weapons scattered around the place was exceedingly large. Some rusty, other brand new and shining.

<p class="MsoNormal">The man placed his great swords on his back, and threw some punches at thin air. The reason was to unwind his windy bones and muscles.

<p class="MsoNormal">Small creaks were heard, and he deduced that he should be fine. Spotting a boulder not too far away, he approached.

<p class="MsoNormal">The man drew one of his weapons, and held it behind his back with both hands. Gazing at the boulder, he finished gathering strength into his arms and swung.

<p class="MsoNormal">The boulder was severed in half, the top part flying a good distance away. Proof that his strength remained ever after death had been found.

<p class="MsoNormal">His golden sarcophagus protected him from soil dwellers, he discovered, as his body was in perfect condition. He hadn’t been eaten in the least beneath the earth, and his body was at its peak of performances.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 4:

<p class="MsoNormal">“Lionheart!” There was a voice, as the two looked up, they could see what was most certainly a wandering spirit.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What?” He responded to it, which now descended from the sky.

<p class="MsoNormal">The beast leaped, running its claw through the spirit, but to no avail.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t bother Belays.”

<p class="MsoNormal">He commanded his beast to stop, as that which is incorporeal can’t harm or be harmed.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I have kept my end of the bargain Lionheart. Will you now give me what I want?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“How long have I spent in the ground?”

<p class="MsoNormal">The spirit was briefly quiet, before answering: “More than eight hundred years.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Eight hundred?! Why so much?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The number of people which had to be sacrificed in this area was significantly high. And given how your pet would leave some standing after they escape through the barrier…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Tch. Don’t start blaming Belays now.” The beast growled.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It couldn’t be helped.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“How many died to give me their life force?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“One thousand.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“One thousand?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You are no ordinary human Lionheart. Where one would need the life force of just another to be resurrected, you required a thousand times that amount! You are not normal!”

<p class="MsoNormal">This was the legendary hero Lionheart. No regular rules apply to him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I-I see… But… What happened, after I perished?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“When your death battle with Azkaal was finished, the human forces continued pushing into the royal demon realm and were able to take the enemy leader’s head.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… That is good. My death wasn’t in vain then.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“If you survived your battle with the pit lord, you would have seen humanity’s victory first hand.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Truth be told, Azkaal was the strongest opponent I had ever faced. I can’t think of a deadlier foe. Not even the demon lord Belial.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, regular heroes wouldn’t have been able to defeat him.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The events of the first era had been explained to Lionheart, who was patiently listening.

<p class="MsoNormal">After his battle with the pit lord, both Azkaal and Lionheart perished. The king’s troops then marched into the royal demon realm and defeat the demon lord.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Were it not for you, humanity could not have won that day.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">“I perished defeating their strongest pawn, and those I put my faith in have not let me down!” He threw his arms up and screamed at the sky for a moment. “YES!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It intrigues me to no end, how someone as strong as Azkaal, would allow a weakling like Belial to become demon lord.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Lionheart dropped his arms and turned to respond: “It was respect! Azkaal looked up to Belial.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So it would appear.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“How is society nowadays?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s… holding up. Somewhat.”

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 5:

<p class="MsoNormal">Lionheart slammed his fist into the remains of the boulder, breaking it apart.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What did you say? The fight’s not over yet?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It seems the cycle continues.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Who is the demon lord now? I’ll go kick his ass and make sure no more appear!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s a she, but she has already conquered more than half the continent, and is giving humanity a hard time.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“All the more reason to knock on the front door.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t believe you stand a chance.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“What did you say?” He inched closer to the spirit, and gazed it straight into its ghastly eyes. “There are none stronger than I!”

<p class="MsoNormal">The spirit took a step back, before continuing: “Return to Lescatie. You will see what I am speaking of.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Did something happen to my home town?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, no… It’s still fine and strong.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good. Because if you told me it was destroyed, I’m not sure what I’d do.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The tone if his voice made it clear. He would go on an unstoppable rampage of hatred if Lescatie fell.

<p class="MsoNormal">Such a proud and strong city should not, must not, fall to chaos.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Now give me what is mine.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Pff. What is yours?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“My soul! Give it back!” Lionheart stuck his arm out and a light bubble appeared above it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Fine, fine, you deserve it, demon.” It quickly grasped at the orb. “I hope you haven’t put a curse on me or something.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I wouldn’t need to.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Were leaving Belays.” He spoke to his pet, who right about now, was brimming with excitement.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lionheart wanted to test out his legs, and he knew the perfect way to do so.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">'''Chapter 6: '''

<p class="MsoNormal">The army waited. That which could clearly be called a thousand monsters army… now stood as rigid as stone in a plain of barren wastelands.

<p class="MsoNormal">Their march had been halted by one mere human. His armor, akin to gold. His name obscured; known only by title.

<p class="MsoNormal">They trembled at the sight of him. But a mere twenty feet away stood the Lion.

<p class="MsoNormal">“There won’t be a second warning. Turn back.” His voice… frighteningly angry.

<p class="MsoNormal">A city laid much further back. The objective of the demonic army.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Lord Belial has blessed me with powers unimaginable by mere mortals!” A four meter tall arch demon stepped forward, bravely wishing for death… “You won’t b-”

<p class="MsoNormal">The demon’s eyes headed in opposite directions, and each respective half of him fell with them. The leader of that legion had been cut in half in but a mere moment.

<p class="MsoNormal">But that which was truly frightening… was that Lionheart had not moved an inch. He had not lifted, nor unsheathed any sort of weapon.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Lion had not at all attacked the demon in any way or form. It was the immense posture and pressure he presented that caused the boasting chieftain to die.

<p class="MsoNormal">In short, he was scared. Scared of the one named Lionheart.

<p class="MsoNormal">And just like fear struck into their legion commander, so dis fear seep into those that followed.

<p class="MsoNormal">It took but a mere step forward from Lionheart for the rest of the demons to turn tails and run, cowering.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">'''Chapter 7: '''

<p class="MsoNormal">The city mighty quickly opened its gates and welcomed its savior.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lionheart was greeted by hundreds of happy smiles and warm faces. He had once more stopped a demonic army in its wake to protect yet another stronghold.

<p class="MsoNormal">But he was not happy. On the contrary. Lionheart knows. He knows that he cannot protect every single city in the King’s lands.

<p class="MsoNormal">He may be the Legendary Lionheart, but he is still human.

<p class="MsoNormal">One day, a hold is going to be under attack. And he won’t be there to stop it…

<p class="MsoNormal">At least not in the way he had been up until now.

<p class="MsoNormal">Every demonic legion stopped without the need to unsheathe his weapons.

<p class="MsoNormal">Every city protected without so much as a single selfish request.

<p class="MsoNormal">He had done what most would consider noble. Had achieved what most would deem impossible.

<p class="MsoNormal">He stopped the war… <p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">The Lion was tired… so, so tired…