Dark Abode pt 2

Soularous walked to the final door and busted it down, an explosion struck him from the trap laid by Gelt. However the magic was absorbed by The Armor of Blue; channeling the magical blast, Soularous sent a beam of magic from the smoke at Gelt. The Crimson One merely raised his hand and caught it, motes of energy swirling around his hand as he regarded the demon king. "You really are trying to piss me off Gelt, you better hope that your magic tricks are prepared, cause what I'm about to do to you, is going to make the old wars look like a walk in the park." He flashed his sword for Gelt to see, his eyes glowing with blue fury.

Soularous was before him now and Gelt knew he had to maintain the control of this confrontation. It was, however, Soularous that had made a terrible mistake. One simply did not challenge a wizard in their abode. Gelt spoke to him as he let go of the energy, the bundle of magic floating beside him. "Your Majesty is still upset at banishment? It is unfortunate that you have decided to enter with hostile want. You have learned nothing since The Fall."

Soularous ground his teeth and blasted lightning at Gelt for his insolence, smiling as the mage was forced to block it with his staff. Gelt absorbed the blast into the item of power, the electricity cracking along the length. "I don't give a damn about your plan, you will pay for my son!"

Gelt gave a dark chuckle. "Your son has reached the beginning of his full potential. I merely helped him. The Diablo is powerful... His destiny will go on long after you and I have left this world. You..." He rose his staff at angle in front of him, the length across his front. "You have your own destiny. You cannot escape it. Shall I show thee?"

The absorbed lightning bolt blasted back at Soularous. The King In Blue laughed as his armor absorbed it. Gelt did not waste air, now launching several magic missiles silently at the demon king. Soularous concentrated on those darts of blue energy streaking towards him, brandishing his blade as he willed the energy of the attack into him. He stepped forward, swing at the ready and aimed at the mage's head.

The Crimson One was prepared. He launched back the beam of energy from where it floated as motes of energy, twinkling blue-gold of power coalescing into directed violence. The Demon King's armor protected him but Gelt had honed his attention to detail on magic for centuries. If Soularous had to concentrate, he would have to drop his guard to attack. And Gelt knew how to test that appropriately.

The blast caught him mid-swing, slamming him fifteen feet back against the wall.

"Damn you! That will not save you!"

Bathlazaar did not respond to that. "Speculatam Image," he breathed. Five illusions came into existence, Gelt silently and randomly teleporting with the creations. Even if his foe tried to place his aura, the power of his illusions showed the exact same power level. "Regio caelesti bonum," Gelt evoked, all of his illusions mimicking his speech.

Soularous merely shook his head in contempt. The mage wanted to use tricks and he was tired of them. One illusion dissipated as he struck it. The rest all fired eldritch blasts of energy at him. His armor absorbed some of the hits but he found himself being flung around. As he picked himself up, he found Gelt waiting for him. The Blue King quickly seized up the red wizard and slammed him into the wall.

Another illusion! It dissipated as a swirling coldness began to creep upon him. Flecks of snow appeared in the room as Gelt called forth the blizzard spell. He still needed time to finish gathering power for his previous spell, which was almost ready. He could feel the well of energy bubbling beneath the surface.

Soularous rushed the last three Gelts. He swept up his sword and brought it down with a heavy cleave that would have split a human in two and growled in frustration as he found only another illusion. He swung as he turned, blade meeting staff as a Gelt parried. The Blue King followed through and spun to parry the other. Faster than mortally possible, he reversed his blade and stabbed backwards.

The real Gelt chose then to release his built up spell. As his foe readied his sword, a sudden field of natural goodness filled the room. Soularous, suddenly feeling pain as goodness sapped at his strength. He swung at Gelt, being parried away and struck three times with his Staff of Power. He felt something trickle from his lips. But now he had him!

Bathlazaar took a step back through the door, calmly resting his staff in his hand as Soularous charged. An invisible force threw him back to the center of the room. His head banged the small pillar with the seeing stone as he stood up. The goodness of the area was disappearing as Gelt beheld him.

"As I suspected. You have learned nothing," he spoke. "I said you have a destiny. I speak truth. But now... I will deprive you of that. Banishment has served to only fuel your selfish needs. Had not your son been injured by my hand, you would have continued to sit upon thine throne. You once proclaimed to bring unification and peace as your mission. Thus I hoped you were true. You have shown me that even gods and beings are incapable of changing."

"Damn you!" Was the vehement cry back. He tried to cross the threshold, seeing the runes in the walls and floor glowing lightly.

"I have Changed... And this world will suffer if it does not as well. There are mysteries upon this world that have shown me what lays beyond. And we are not ready. Be grateful, Your Majesty. You will be instrumental in the founding of the Empire. I am not cruel, such as you. I leave you with your sight," Gelt finished with a gesture to the seeing stone. With that, he turned swiftly around and mentally shut the doors. He could hear Soularous just before the heavy doors closed but it did not concern him. He was anchored there until the enchantments were lifted.

Gelt was aware of Aldous and set through the halls at a slow pace towards his presence. The remains of some of his chosen were passed without remorse or thought of them. Everything was replaceable, even him. And it did not matter, so long as his mission succeeded.

"Who dares trespass my domain?" he intoned, his voice echoing throughout his stronghold to every corner of every wall.