The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 08

It had taken him a while to get rid of those thoughts from his mind and concentrate on the present problem. To accomplish those tasks, they had to successfully reach Karigor by passing the Gauntlet of Death. After a few experiments and constant meditation despite his hungry stomach, he'd finally found the answer.

He let the thin mist caressed his skin. Then he ignited his inner power, covering his body in bright flame. He still felt the soft caress against his skin. Unlike the event in the swamp, the mist was unaffected by the flame across his body. The flame aura was known to protect him only from harmful things, which had enabled Anna to once touch him without being burnt. There could only be one conclusion. The mist in the swamp was faked. It was only animated mist summoned by magic, used to create illusions of the Dark Elves and hide their actual positions.

'Believe in Mother Nature' Aurelia had said. Nature was a Ranger's greatest ally. A Ranger fought alongside with it and used its power. Now he would use its power to strike terror to the enemy.

He could sense Maya approaching. "We're ready to go." He said.

"Yup!" Maya answered in her usual merry tone. "We're also ready!"

Atrus winced. "We?"

"Yes, I'm coming." Roberto appeared from behind the trees, wielding his gigantic sword.

Atrus faced him. "You're okay now?"

"Yes, I'm all healthy. Thank you."

Atrus winced again. This was the first time he heard the word 'thank you' from the prince's mouth. The prince saw the expression in his face and hung his head.

"Look, I... I owe you an apology. I know I've been such a jerk. I'm sorry..."

"Now what is this all so sudden?"

"Your sla... uh... girl here... She has straightened me up. I... I think I have to learn to understand people better rather than demanding them to understand me. I was wrong. I'm sorry."

A long silence hovered over them.

Then Roberto felt that Atrus grabbed his shoulder firmly and gave a friendly shake. "You know what? Your father must be proud of you."

"My... my father...? You mean you're planning the whole thing?"

"Your father cares about you. He sent you in this journey for your own good. Being a king is not an easy task. I hope you learn your first lesson?"

"You mean the first lesson to become a king is to understand people?" He asked.

"No." Atrus smiled. "It goes without saying. Your first lesson is to say that you're sorry."

Aurelia woke up and found herself lying on a hard and cold stone. She also discovered that she was shackled on the stone. The chains were loose enough to allow her to struggle, but strong enough to keep her from escaping. She was also stark naked. The cold stone beneath her body sent shiver through her bones.

She was at the center of a large cave, on a slightly raised platform made of solid stone. She could see nobody, but she could see their shadows against the cave walls. They were humming soft and eerie chanting that echoed in the cave and hurt her ears terribly.

"Stop it!!" She screamed. "Let me go!!"

A Dark Elf appeared in her limited vision. He wore unusual clothes which looked like a priest suit, except for the tooth-necklace and the skull-topped staff. His face was full with scars. His evil grin revealed the poorly tended teeth, giving her creeps.

"At last... The Elf is awake!" He said, followed by the cheers from across the room.

"What do you mean?! Of course I'm awake! Now let me go!!"

"We can't, Elf, because you will become the sacrifice for our ritual!"

"What...?!"

Her gaze was suddenly locked on another figure on her side. It was bigger than normal Elves. As the figure was illuminated by the nearby torch, Aurelia screamed in terror at what she saw. The figure was a dark-green monster with badly disfigured face and multiple horns and tusks all over his body. His studded leather armor were decorated with blood-stained spikes, enhancing his wicked appearance.

"You... you're a demon!!" She found herself saying.

"That's right, Elf!" The demon spoke with his harsh tone. "And you're going to be the peace offering for our alliance!"

"A... alliance?"

"The Dark Elves and demons are forging an alliance to counter yours." The other Elf said. "We will definitely crush your pitiful country and rule the realm together!"

"You're a fool!" Aurelia snarled. "The demons will kill us all! Your race is included!"

"Hah! We demons value long-term goal for our race." The demon snarled. "We will forge this alliance and, unlike Humans and Elves, we honor our oath! We're not engaged in your little silly pillow fight!"

Aurelia stared at her opponent sternly. "I know what you're up to! You can fool these people, but you can't fool me!"

"How dare you...?!!!" The Dark Elf snarled.

"Worry not, my ally..." The demon said calmly, dismissing the priest's anger. "She's going nowhere, especially after the ritual is completed. Then you can enjoy her sensuous scream!"

Panic grew in her mind. "What ritual?! What are you going to do to me?!"

"Say goodbye to your virginity..." The priest chuckled.

The two dark figures withdrew, leaving her struggling in her bonds. The chains were not taut, enabling limited movement, but were very strong and solid. In fact, she knew that her wiggling naked body would provide the best entertainment for her captors. Realizing this, she stayed still.

"Why, my dear, don't you keep your sexy struggle? But don't worry. We'll provide the encouragement from here..." The Dark Elf muttered.

Then the Dark Elves around the cave resumed their chanting. Their voice echoed along the cave walls, inside her ears and into her mind. Being a High Elf had granted her sensitivity surpassing Humans, and she could feel the souls of evil spirits filling the room. The spirit circled her body and probed her mind, sending shiver down her spine. She knew, at that time, that she was in a deep trouble.

Suddenly the stone circle beneath her began to glow in dim green. The cold glow seemed to cover her body and enveloped it with its frigid caress. Then the sensation started. She let out a small moan as her body responded to the sensation. Something was covering her, and it was stimulating her! She tried to wiggle to evade the glow, but she couldn't escape the chains. The green tendrils of power had had her in its grasp.

The green tendrils reached for her exposed breasts and began to massage them softly. She moaned in protest, but to her dismay her nipples stood erect instantly upon contact. Then she could feel more tendrils reached out for her nether region and began teasing her crotch. She tried to concentrate and resist the temptation, but the evil spirits around her probed her mind, forcing her to submit. Again and again she resisted, and again and again she was defeated.

"Surrender...!" The priest muttered, his voice echoing in her mind. "Surrender...!"

"No... stop it..."

"You like it... Don't deny your desire... You enjoy it..."

"No... no..."

"Yet you are wet... Very wet indeed..."

Overcome by her shame, her defiance grew weaker. Slowly parts of her mind submit to the intrusion. Her body involuntarily began to wiggle around to enhance the sensation. In her deepest conscious, she knew that she had to resist, or she would be defeated.

The tendrils around her nether region increased their intrusion and began to push their way inside her pussy. She shrieked and renewed her struggle, but everything was in vain. The pain shot out through her brain as she cried in agony, and she knew that her virginity was no more. She had been deflowered in a shameful and degrading manner. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She was hopeless. She knew that she would never be the same again.

Slowly the pain vanished, replaced by the wonderful sensation. Her aching vaginal muscles kept on sending pleasure waves to her brain, again weakening her defiance. She knew she was no longer one of the High Elves. She knew that her mother, her brother, and all her people back in Elom would not accept her back, for she was dirty and tainted. She had been violated by the evil power, and she enjoyed it.

"Surrender... surrender..."

Then the picture of her new friends came into her mind. Atrus... Anna... Hawk... where are you...? Have they killed you...? Or have you abandoned me...?

Finally, in her deepest frustration, the sensation reached its peak and she cried as her first climax overcame her. She body shuddered and her vaginal juice flowed freely from her pussy. New tears sprang from her eyes. She knew that she was lost. She knew that she had been defeated.

Atrus stood silently on a solid rock. Her two friends were behind him, watching his flanks. His trusted sword was strapped safely on his back. And before him was the view of the Swamp of the Dread. The darkness of the night, enhanced by the thick mist covering the swamp, prevented him from seeing practically anything. But he knew that the mist was unreal. Both Anna and Aurelia had sensed the anomaly in this swamp. He knew that Mother Nature didn't exist in this swamp. But they had to cross the Gauntlet of Death to save their friends. And to do so, they had to ask for help.

Silently he invoked his power. Until now he hadn't completely understood his power, but he knew that it had never disappointed him before. He discovered it by accident when he lost himself to his anger in Gideon. Now he knew that anger would be too dangerous, for he would have no control over it. His urge of freeing his friends had been his best reason to invoke the power. He smiled in delight as bright flame soon covered his body from head to toe. The smile didn't last for long. They got a job to do.

He turned toward his friends. "Ready?"

"I'm ready, Master!" Maya answered in her usual cheerful manner.

"I have your back covered, partner!" Roberto answered sternly.

Atrus smiled at the young prince. Roberto had recovered from his shock and depression, and he could feel the young prince's excitement for this upcoming battle. He turned toward the swamp and withdrew his sword, which was quickly covered with flame.

"Mother Nature would lead the way." He declared.

He reached out with his left hand and touched the air, and to his delight the mist withdrew from him. He let the flame grow brighter, and more mist withdrew from him. Then the surrounding was covered with the same thick mist which was unaffected by the flame. Mother Nature was truly in their side. The real mist would now conceal their position from their unwary enemy, while their own fake mist would lead them through the Gauntlet of Death and hopefully toward the Stronghold.

"Come. Keep your eyes open." Atrus said, then began walking.

The flame kept their surrounding clear while they walked. The thick mist retreated from them completely that they could even see where they were standing. Yet behind them, the real mist refilled the space. Then Atrus could feel the strange force probing his mind. He knew somebody was near. He let his flame grew even brighter, illuminating a large space of land and revealing several enemies around them.

The Dark Elves didn't know that the party could see them and was taken by surprise when Roberto charged them. While the enemies stared at the gigantic sword in amazement, Roberto swung his sword casually, taking three lives with it. The sword easily cut through their bodies and split them in half. The other Dark Elves were petrified, but soon fell victim of Kaiser Sword. The rest of the enemies tried to run, but Maya's knives did a short work of them.

The battle attracted more Dark Elves, but when they arrived the swamp was filled with thick fog. They could not see through the mist for it was the real one, but Atrus could. The Dark Elves were panicking, therefore creating a lot of noise. Atrus easily pinpointed their positions and charged them with his sword. Soon, the first part of the Gauntlet of Death had been defeated.

Atrus smiled at his companions and walked forward. They knew that they would succeed. They knew that Mother Nature was truly on their side. Now they were going to strike fear to the heart of the enemies.

Anna cried and wiggled madly as another orgasm overcame her, but the ooze held her rigid. The monster had been keeping her in constant simulation for almost three hours, violating her vagina and asshole while keeping her from fainting. She could feel that the monster occasionally inserted a needle under her skin and injected some of the fluid to keep her from dehydrating. This would enable her to keep on producing fluid for the monster for a long time. She knew that the Dark Elves wanted her to die, and they wanted her to die a slow, terrible death.

She moaned in protest as the violation continued. The sticky goo around her breasts kept on massaging her nipples, sending pleasure sensations throughout her brain. Her defiance was pushed back again as another orgasm claimed her. She could feel how wet her crotch had become, and how greedy the monster had consumed her vaginal fluid. The ooze had grown considerably in size and had almost covered her neck. She knew that if she surrendered, she might end her life trapped inside the ooze for a long time.

She couldn't imagine how miserable the end of her life would be. She could picture herself being kept to feed the monster with her unholy lust. She knew that her life as a priestess had ended. She knew that her journey with Atrus was over.

Then she felt a sudden heat coming from the creature. She was delighted at the thought that the ooze had decided to slay her immediately, for the heat kept on coming and increasing. Yet soon the heat became unbearable and she cried in pain. The creature, however, seemed to stir and scream in its own way. And then the creature suddenly let her body go and she slid down and fell toward the ground.

She felt that somebody caught her body before she hit the ground and lay her on the ground. She couldn't help but moan at the touch of the cold ground, but to her delight, she recognized the voice.

"Miss Anna?! Are you okay?! Miss Anna, wake up!"

"Hawk..." Anna murmured weakly. "Is that you...?"

"Praise Guardian, you're okay!" Hawk's voice came again. "Open your eyes. We're fine."

Anna opened her eyes and smiled at the sight of her new friend. "I suppose I owe you my life. Thanks for saving me."

"My life debt on you is paid. We'll call this even."

Anna struggled to stand erect for her legs had turned fragile from the ooze's constant violation. Hawk undid his cloak and wrapped it around Anna's body, covering her nakedness. She gave him a grateful smile and looked around her. They were not alone. In fact, there were at least ten other people in the room, and they were all High Elves.

"They are the prisoners." Hawk explained. "They were kept inside the mountain oozes, just the way they kept you. We're still freeing more as we speak. Many have died from dehydration, but it's so good to know that you're okay."

"I'll be fine." Anna answered. "So you use magic to kill the oozes?"

"No, but the Elves are very good at using bows and arrows." Anna nodded, noticing that the Elves were carrying bows and a pack of arrows on their backs. "They just light the tip with fire and burn the monster t ashes, just the way they freed you."

One of the Elves approached her, gave a short salute, and greeted her with his melodious voice. "You must be one of the Humans who were sent to rescue us. We thank you."

"No, I thank you for saving my life." Anna smiled. "But we should be on our way now. Princess Aurelia is in danger. She is going to be sacrificed for the new Gate to the Underworld. If they succeed, the Stronghold will provide the second access to the Nether Realm and the land of Elom will be overrun by the demons."

"Very well, Humans." The Elf nodded. "We shall aid you in any ways possible. We'll just free some friends in this room and we'll be following you soon." Then he left.

"Where's Atrus?" Anna asked with concerned tone.

"I don't know." Hawk shook his head. "I hope he's all right. "But there's no time to look for him. We have to free Aurelia!"

"B...but Atrus... We have to look for him! He could still be trapped in the swamp right now... We have to help him..."

"But there's a problem with greater priority right now!" Hawk insisted. "If the Gate is opened, the land of the Elves is lost!"

"But I'm worried about him! In fact, we need his power!"

"Look, Miss Anna, do you believe in him?"

Anna stared at him. "In Atrus? Why, yes!"

"Then he will come. All we have to do is stop whatever they're doing to Aurelia. That way we can buy more time until Sir Atrus arrives."

Anna tried to argue, but she knew he was right. "I... I'm sorry... I'm just worried..."

Hawk grasped her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "Miss Anna, I know that you care about him, but I'm sure what we're going to do is the right thing to do. I know it, you know it, Atrus knows it. Let's make him proud."

Anna nodded, closed her eyes and chanted her spell. Then two invisible magic barriers appeared around them, protecting them from magic from any angles. "This should help for a while."

"Good. Let's go. We have a party to crash."

Atrus charged the nearest Dark Elf and finished him, and the last guard of the Karigor Stronghold fell to the ground. They stopped for a while to regain their breath. The battle had been intense, but they were barely wounded. The mist had done a good job at hiding their positions all the time until they met the archers. The archers used fire-tipped arrows to illuminated the area, and Atrus and Roberto had to work hard to protect Maya as she threw her knives at the source of the arrows. Finally they defeated their last enemy, and more importantly, the Gauntlet of Death.

The party stared at the huge cave entrance before them. The cave was dark, but they could see flickering light at the end of the tunnel. It was completely unguarded. It's either that this is a trap, or the Dark Elves are having a birthday party...

"Come." Atrus muttered. "Our job is not finished. Keep your eyes open."

Aurelia let out a loud yelp as the evil tendrils of power increased the intensity of their intrusion, raping her body and violating her mind. Her breathing became ragged as her will power diminished slowly. She could only stare in horror as the stone circle beneath her glowed brighter.

"The time has come." The evil priest said. "With your sacrifice, the alliance with the land of the Underworld is forged!"

"I DON'T THINK SO!!!"

The Dark Elves around the room quickly took cover as a pair of fireballs flew and exploded harmlessly on the ground near her. She could see the image of the little priestess at the corner of her eyes.

"Anna... help..."

Suddenly the Dark Elf priest stood between her and Anna, holding his skull staff and waving it on the air angrily. "If you're going to interrupt, you will have to go through me!"

He let loose a pair of firebolts which Anna easily avoided but the third bolt exploded against her invisible barrier, knocking her down. She got on her feet and retreated through the tunnel, still firing firebolts blindly. The priest yelled a war cry and ran along the tunnel, followed by a large group of Dark Elves. Then another figure showed up beside her, standing on top of the stone circle.

"Hawk! It's so good to see you! Help me!" Aurelia pleaded.

"Hang on there. I need to cut these chains. Now close your eyes!"

She obeyed and Hawk swung his spear down. The blade hit the chain with a loud clank, creating sparks, and the wrist chain was cut. Expertly he cut her other chains and she was free. She stood unsteadily on the cold stone. When she saw her savior before her, she jumped on him and hugged him tight.

"YIKES!!! Aurelia... I mean... Princess... you... you're naked...!"