With shadows coming from both sides, Nestor ran. He dodged between trees and hopped anything in his way. They had tried many times to lift off the ground and fly, but neither of them were strong enough. Off in the distance, Alea saw a hill that rose high over the forest. From there, they could defend themselves and hold the shadows off.
"There." She pointed to the hill. "Can you make it to that hill? It's small enough for us to defend."
"If you can keep them off us." Nestor said as he ran. "I can get us there."
With Alea settled in his arms, Nestor took off across the rocky plain. Behind him, four shadow creatures, huge saber toothed cats stepped out from dark areas behind huge boulders. As Alea watched, their glowing eyes searched the plains. It was obvious to Alea that somehow, these things were looking for them. It didn't take long before they saw Nestor running across the rocky wasteland. In great leaps they were after them.
"Hurry Nestor!" Alea urged him. "Trouble is close behind."
Without looking back, Nestor quickened his speed toward the hill. He pumped his heavily muscled legs like mad while Alea watched the shadows gaining on them by the second. With the shadows cats coming from the rear, Alea looked up and saw strange reptilian birds dropping down from the clouds. Raising her hand, she sent her moon blast at the screaming flock of sky terrors. One by one she blasted them out of the sky as Nestor ran up the hill and jumped over the rim of a small circular crater.
Once there, he placed her down and turned to the advancing saber tooth's. With a mighty leap, one was on him. Nestor reached and grabbed it out of the air and forced it to the ground. Snapping and snarling it fought back trying to get at him. Nestor grabbed it by the two long fangs and ripped them from the beast jaw and stabbed them into its chest. With a loud howl the shadow cat fell back over the rim of the crater to be replaced by another. Now armed with the two foot long fangs, Nestor stabbed and slashed at anything that came over the craters rim. At his side, Alea blasted shadow birds and cats alike.
As the minutes ticked by theY fought on. Nestor held the front while Alea fought at his back. Sweat poured off Nestor's muscled body as he dispatched his enemies. As each shadow died, its body rolled down the hill and faded into the nothing it had been created from.
"I grew tired." Alea said as she killed a cat then a bird that swooped down on them. "I can't keep this up to much longer."
"You have to my love." He said. "Or all is lost!"
Alea stood on her knees and poured more power into her moon blast. She was tired and feeling weak. Her vision was beginning to blur but she fought on. Then suddenly from her left, a cat leaped at her. She tried to turn and meet the charge, but it was to late. She took a deep breathe to scream when suddenly a beam of light blasted the cat to pieces. When Alea looked out, she saw Aramis, Rimnar and a dark haired pretty dirl running towards them.
"Nestor!" She called. "We are saved!"
"What?"He turned to look. Just then, a trio of shadow birds screeched and swooped down on Nestor. Aramis dived over the rim of the crater and sent out several short blasts that tore them out of the sky.
"ENOUGH!!"
Rimnar shouted sending out a wave of power that disrupted all the shadows gathered around to attack. In a burst of light they all exploded and fell to the ground to fade away. He took two steps over the rim of the crater and collapsed in front of Alea.
"FATHER!!"
She reached over and pulled him to her laying his head on her chest. He moaned and opened his eyes and smiled weakly.
"I will be fine." He said. "I just need to rest. Leave me here. You all go on."
"No father." Aramis said. "We're not leaving you here alone."
"Extremus has eyes everywhere." Matia said as she ripped a piece of clothe from her dress to wipe his brow. "If we leave you here alone, he'll have every shadow here attack you. Alone you won't stand a chance."
"Extremus?" Nestor turned to Aramis. "Then we're in Nightmare?
"Yes." Aramis nodded.
"No wonder I can't get control of the shadows here." He knelled down to Rimnar. "You know what this means, right? We're almost powerless here. We never should have given him control of nightmares. I was afraid this would one day come back on us."
"I had no choice, brother." Rimnar said. "He was powerful. It was either this or the Underworlds and there was no way I'd trust him with control over your realm."
"You're right." Nestor agreed. "His evil would have made Muerte look like a fairy god mother. You know we can't get out of here without help."
"Yes," Rimnar reached out and took Nestor's hand to help him to his feet. "Help will come when we need it most. Meanwhile, I think we should find Extremus and bring the fight to him before we're to weak to fight."
"And how do we do that?" Nestor asked his elder brother. "Do you know where he is?"
"No." Rimnar answered.
"But I do." Matia frowned.
From his throne Extremus sat and watched as Nestor and Alea stepped out from the crater with Matia leading while Aramis lent his father Rimnar a shoulder for support. So that bitch Matia had betrayed him. Extremus stepped down from his throne and grabbed a crystal goblet from the table and hurled it at his onyx mirror. It smashed and blood red wine disrupted the images it had been showing the god of hate. He had watched as Damiceius was defeated and banished to Keanna and Jax moved on. None of his shadows had any effect on Jax. He easily blasted them apart with wave of his hand. It seemed Jax was more powerful then Extremus and anticipated, but that didn't matter. He had only justice on his side while Extremus ruled hate and that could tear down mountains.
"Let him come." Extremus said aloud. "I will be ready. I'll will have a surprise waiting for him."
With that, Extremus threw back his head and laughed a loud hysterical laugh as he left the throne room.
After four hours of walking and dozens of shadow creature attacks, at last the dark towers of Extremus's palace could be seen over the dead forest in the distance. Aramis looked over to Matia who stood there with terror in her eyes. He reached over pulled her into a hug as she stared up at him.
"Don't be afraid." He smiled. "It's almost over. I'm taking you out of this terrible place."
"You promise?"
"With all that I am." He said. "I promise."
"Then I'm not afraid." Matia smiled.
In front of them there was a path that led down to a road that ran right into the forest looking like it went straight to the dark castle. Rimnar took a step onto the path when Matia stopped him.
"No." She said. "Not that way. That's the path of fear. Extremus will have that path watched very closely. No one has every made it very far alone that path. There is another way in, but we must be very careful. There are things in this forest that he created to guard his palace."
"I'll take the lead." Nestor stepped up. "Then Rimnar, Alea, Matia and Aramis, you cover our rear."
"Before we start on this journey." Matia turned to face them. "I have to warn you. This place is not like any other realm any of you have every been in before. Physically and mentally this is a land of horror. Nothing is real but everything here can kill you and it is all controlled by Extremus. The longer you are here, the weaker your physical body will become. We must defeat Extremus if we ever want to leave this place."
"I know a little about this place." Nestor told them as they started down into the forest. The path was much smaller and almost hidden from sight. "He once trapped a few dead souls here. I had to come in and retrieve them. I had a hell of a time finding my way around."
"How did you find them?" Aramis asked looking around the dense dark forest.
"Souls here glow with the energy of life." He said. "Even dead souls. Life is a precious gift and no matter how hard he try's, Extremus doesn't have the power to give his creations the spark to give them life."
Aramis smiled. Life was his domain and he knew why Extremus had failed. That secret would always stay with him.
"As a living god." Nestor finished. "I tuned in on to any source of life here and it shined like a beacon. I simply flew straight to it and brought them out. But that won't work for us now because none of us are physically here. As I said before, it's going to take a strong force of life to get us free."
It seemed like hours the walked mile after mile. Shadows attacked many times with each attack getting more and more desperate. Nestor and Aramis fought off what seemed to be the ghostly spirit of a trio of warriors while Alea and Matia did battle against two wicked looking Harpies.
Then they came to deep crevice, a small sunken valley between two high cliffs where Alea held out her hand to stop them. Every sense in her being told her there was danger here.
"What is it my sweet?" Nestor whispered looking from side to side seeing only trees and darkness.
"There's something here." She said. "I can feel it. Walk carefully."
Slowly they entered watching each side for the slightest hint of movement. Along the sides of the cliffs, there were huge cave openings and scattered on the ground, they saw what looked like old chewed up bones. Then a strange smell caught their attention.
"Ugh!!" Matia covered her nose. "What is that smell?"
"I know that scent." Aramis grabbed her and pushed her behind him. "I know it very well. It's the smell of death!"
Then suddenly something howled and charged out of the caves. Quickly Nestor grabbed Aramis and pushed him ahead with Rimnar and Matia as three huge Ogres attacked.
"Take your father and Matia and get out of here! He shouted. "We will face the shadow Ogres and catch up with you!"
Concentrating Nestor and Alea grew to a size to match the two Ogres. He pulled the two fangs from his side and attacked. Alea formed a blade from her moon beams and jumped in at his side.
"GO!" Nestor yelled as he swung the fang in and slashed across the chest of the Ogre he battled.
Aramis wished them well and grabbed Rimnar by his waist and told Matia to run.
With the sound of battle echoing through the valley behind them, they ran out into the forest. Extremus's dark castle stood huge before them only a few miles away.
"What do we do?" Matia asked. Her voice cracked with fear.
"We go on." Rimnar stood up. "They will defeat the Ogres and they will join us when they can, but we have to get to Extremus now. There isn't much time, I'm getting weaker by the minute."
"Then let's go." reached out and took Matia's hand and squeezed it. "Have faith."
From high in the sky Jax spotted the obsidian palace and turned to head for it. He had had enough of fighting Extremus's shadow creatures. It was to to find him and end this. As he scanned the ground below him, he spotted the valley and saw the battle raging between Nestor and the Ogres. Looking closer, he realized Nestor was standing over Alea pitched in battle against two Ogres while another four lay dead on the ground. Like a stone he dropped to land behind the two Ogres. With both hands he reached out and grabbed them and smashed them together two times then dropped their crushed bodies. Nestor collapsed to his knees and lifted Alea up to cradle her in his arms.
"Is she?"
"No," Nestor shook his head. "She killed two then fell from exhaustion. My Moon Queens is very brave. She stood by my side as long as she could."
"Jax?" Alea opened her eyes and smiled when she saw him. "He knew you would come. He had no doubt. Help me up, we have to go help them."
"No Sister." He touched her beautiful face and wiped away tears. "I will bring them home. Your job is done. I'm sending you home to rest and get well. Go back to sleep."
Smiling, Alea closed her eyes and lay against her husbands chest sound asleep. Nestor held her and brushed the hair from her face.
"Send her home." He said. "I will come with you."
"No." Jax stood up. "Your going home too. I need you both home in case I fail."
"You? Fail? That doesn't sound like the god of Justice I know. You won't fail. It's not in your nature.
We will see you in Fortis."
With that, Jax cast his spell to send them home and Nestor and Alea disappeared in a burst of light.
Turning around, Jax looked at the ominous dark castle. This was his objective. This is where Extremus would be waiting for him. Removing his cloak, Jax leaped up into the air and headed in to save his family.
It was cold as Aramis opened his eyes. Completely confused, he looked around to see where he was. He was in some kind of huge room with black walls and dark wooden furniture. On the walls hung some kind of dreary dark drapes all around the room. The floor looked like black marble with swirling mist designs.
Aramis head ached. He tried to raise his hand to rub what felt like a lump on his head. That's when he realized he had been chained down. He shook himself trying to get loose, but he hads been chained at his hands and he feet. Where was he? He looked left and saw Matia chained next to him. Then he remembered where they were. This had to be the dark palace of Extremus. Aramis didn't remember, but some how, they must have been captured. Then a thought hit him. Matia was here next to him, but where was father?
Then he heard a scream of pain and the bellowing of mad laughter. He looked out and saw Rimnar laid out on a great slab with a strange bald hunchbacked and wrinkled man in dark robes standing over him. This had to be Extremus.
"Scream louder!" He laughed. "Your screams are sweet music to my ears."
"Why Brother?" Rimnar asked. "I gave you what you wanted. I gave you your own realm to rule over for eternity. What more did you want?"
"I want life and control over the living." He reached down and grabbed Rimnar by the hair. "You gave me nightmares when I should have been given control of much more. I was the oldest. I should have at all not you. Now my hate will roll across Keanna destroying everything you and your little gods created!"
He slammed Rimnars head into the slab again and again then weakly slapped him across the face. Rimnar lay there taking the beating growing weaker with each blow. He didn't know how much more he could take. He looked over to Aramis hanging on the wall.
"Now my hate will roll across Keanna destroying everything you and your little gods created!"
[Take care of Saila for me.] He sent. [Don't let her give up in dispair after I'm gone.]
[Don't give up father.] Aramis pleaded. [Jax is close. I can feel him. He'll be here soon, please don't give up!]
[I am all used up. Tell your brother how proud I am of him and that I love you all.].
"So now I take my final revenge on you brother." Extremus raised a dagger he took from his robe pocket. "In your weaked state, this should be all I need to kill you. Good bye High Father!"
As Jax burst into the room, Extremus plunged the dagger down into Rimnars chest piercing his immortal heart.
"Noooo!!"
Jax thrust out his hand and sent a wave of power at Extremus that threw his across the room to crash into his throne. He rushed to the altar and ripped off the chains that helds down Rimnar and lifted him up and took him over to where Aramis hung. As Extremus pushed the throne off of himself, Jax freed Aramis and Matia.
"Take him home." Jax stood and looked over as Extremus got to his feet. "I will deal with this one."
He cast the spell to send them home then stepped out to confront Extremus.
"So Justice has arrived finally." Extremus hobbled out leaning on a broken leg from his throne. He smiled a crooked smile. "Well your to late. Rimnar is dead and after I'm finished with you, Saila and the pothers will be next and there's nothing you can do."
"I am the god of justice." Jax said calmly. "And you extremus have broken the laws of both man and the gods. For causing the deaths of thousands of men. For waging an unjust war across Keanna. For aiding and abetting in the raids of cities and villages all over Taggitia, I will pass judgement on you. I find you guilty of crimes against Keanna."
Extremus threw down his crutch and raise his hands for battle. He slammed them together in a thunderous blast that blew his palace to pieces scattering fragments of shadow, then he stepped out onto his nightmare landscape changed. No longer was he the wrinkled old hunchback of a god. Now he was a gigantic creature of shadow radiating wave of shadow energy all around him.
Jax stepped back and called upon his own godly energy and drew himself to a size to match Extremus. As the lord of justice, Jax body became completely silver with a glowing arches radiating from his back. Silver talons grew from his hands and his eyes glowed with power.
Without another word, Extremus charged. He sent out bands of shadow to grab Jax. Like thick black ropes they tried to wrap themselves around him. Slashing out, Jax cut the bands as they closed around him and sent a blast of energy at the Nightmare god. Raising his hands palms out, Extremus cast a shield to intercept the blast. As the blast hit his shield, Extremus sent dagger like shadows at Jax. Jax closed the arches around himself catching each shadow blade before any could hit him.
With lightning like reflexes, Jax shot out his silver arches and battered Extremus. Like mighty arms the arches struck, sending punches at Extremus's body and face.
Pain ran through Extremus's body as he was forced back away from Jax. He staggered for a moment, then cast out his bands like insect legs and stood high over Jax. Forming a stinger from his bands, he stabbed down at Jax trying to skewer him. Jax leaped up into the air using his arches as wings and sent blast after blast at Extremus. Intercepting the blasts, Extremus reached out and grabbed Jax out of the air. With octopus like tentacles, he wrapped them around Jax and squeezed while he pulled him in.
"Fight all you want Young one." Extremus shouted. "In the end, it won't matter. You will die just like your father and my nightmares will cover Keanna turn it into my own private world of Delusion. There's nothing you can do about it."
The thought of all his friends having to die at the hands of Extremus and Sarella angered Jax. They had fought so long for peace. After defeating the evil of Polan Dressak, Balhazar Gaelich and Muerte, they all deserved to live in peace. At that moment, Jax swore they would and no nightmares would haunt their future.
"No Uncle!" Jax screams as he pushed out with all his power. "This ends now!!"
Like a star, Jax flared out with intense power and energy. Extremus's tentacles of shadow were ripped from his body and he fell to the ground blinded by Jax's power. As he hit the ground, his shadow power exploded leaving the crippled old god laying there dazed. Jax floated down to stand before him glowing with power.
"It's over." Jax voice boomed. "You will never hurt anyone else that I love."
"Not yet!" Extremus scrambled to his feet. "I haven't lost yet!"
With his hands held out, Extremus summoned every shadow, every bit of darkness that he could muster and sent it at Jax. Like a black tornado the shadows swirled around and attacked Jax covering him like a swarm of deadly insects. Jax fought to try and push them away. In seconds he was covered from head to toe. It was becoming impossible to breathe. Then out of nowhere he heard a voice in his head.
RELAX MY BRIGHT SON. I AM HERE. NO NIGHTMARE OR SHADOW WILL EVER HARM YOU.
[Father?]
YES MY SON. YOU SAVED US AND GOT EVERYONE HOME. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO GO HOME.
[What about Extremus?] Jax asked, [What about you? Will you be there when I get back?]
EXTREMUS WILL NEVER HURT ANYONE ELSE AGAIN. Rimnar promised. MY TIME IS UP AND I WILL TAKE HIM WITH ME INTO THE NEXT WORLD, BUT I HAD TO SPEAK TO YOU BEFORE I MOVE ON. I KNOW IN THE PASS WE HAVE HAD OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO CALL YOU MY SON AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU AND THE OTHERS. FAREWELL MY YOUNG HERO.
[Farewell father. I love you too.]
When the darkness faded, Jax was standing in a field of grass on a lawn in Fortis. He was home.
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