Cole and the Dragon Knights rode for less than a day before they encountered the outer perimeter patrols. The attack came without warning. If it hadn't been for the cry of a bird above, the heroes would have been slaughtered. A pack of hell hounds charged them from every direction. Seeing that a disguise would be useless now, Cole tore away the clothes covering his Armor, removed the strips of cloth from his Sword's hilt, and placed the Dragon Helmet on his head. The others quickly grasped the Crests around their necks and cried out activation words. Each of them was surrounded by an ethereal Dragon respective to the color of each Crest. There was a flash of light around each man, and suddenly the Dragon Knights were fully armored.
Cole drew the Goddess' Sword and cut down the nearest hound. "Fox! Connery!" shouted the Dragonmaster. "Shake 'em up a little!"
The both Knights nodded. Fox kicked a hound away and fired a barrage of fire arrows from Dragon Bow. The beasts yelped and howled as the arrows singed and burned their scaled bodies. Confused by the fire, the hounds were unprepared for the wave of frost released by Connery's Spear. Shocked by the combination of heat and cold, the surviving hounds began to retreat. "We can't leave any alive!" shouted Cole.
"I got 'em!" called Argile.
The Black Knight pulled his Axe from a dead hound's skull and raised it high. The Black Dragon's Axe burst into ebony flames. Argile roared and through the Axe at the retreating demons. The Axe buried itself in the ground behind the retreating beasts and summoned forth a wave of earth. The mass of dirt and stone crashed down upon them, leaving no survivors. Seconds later, the Axe flew from the ground and returned to Argile's waiting hand.
Mirage pulled his Scimitar from another corpse and looked around. "That wasn't so bad," he said.
"That's right," replied Cole suspiciously. "It wasn't." He took a quick look at the dark clouds on the horizon and snapped the reins of his horse. "Come on. We've got to keep moving." The Knights fell in place behind the Dragonmaster, and they continued their journey east.
A shadow played itself across the world map which Kole was inspecting. The Demon Dragonmaster looked up at the Shadow Dragon, Thiss. "Yes, Thiss?"
"The Dragon Knights have been sighted near our staging area outside Yin-Pral," said the Dragon in a low voice.
"Good," replied Kole. He returned to the map. "Remind Vasen and Miraje to let them pass without too much conflict. I want them to continue to believe that we are trying to halt their advance. And send a message to Miraje, saying I want him to return here, now."
"As you wish," said Thiss.
Kole waited for the Dragon to leave before he allowed himself to smile. Everything was going exactly as planned. He absently traced circles around the possible location of the first Resurrection Stone. Yes, as soon as the Dragon Knights and his counter part were neutralized, he could begin his search for the Stones. Kole raised his head, and the halls of Xobelisk began to echo with the laughter of the dark warrior.
The sky was filled with black and gray storm clouds. Cole and the Knights watched the Hades Army from a distant hill top. "It's huge!" said Connery with utter awe.
Cole could only nod his head in agreement. The ranks of the Hades Army stretched out for what seemed like miles. It swelled with men and monsters alike. "You know we're going to have to deal with that sooner of later," said Mirage.
"And this is only a portion of it," added Argile. "Can we possibly stand up to such a force?"
Cole merely sighed. "We'll deal with that when the time comes. First, we have to figure out how to get past this monster."
"Let's wait a until it get a little darker, and then make our move," suggested Fox.
"Good idea, Fox," said Cole. "Let's rest here until dark."
The five men secured their horses and proceeded to make a small camp. To pass the time, each one either partook of a cold meal or a short nap. The hours passed, and the sun silently set behind the clouds. The air grew chill and dark around the heroes. Finally, Cole stood and strapped on his Sword. "Okay, let's move out."
The five men saddled up and began their attempt to slip by the Hades Army. They hadn't been riding for ten minutes, when there was a brilliant flash of light directly within the enemy camp. The party stopped their mounts and watched the night for several moments. Again, there was a flash of white light within the enemy army. "What the hell is that?" squeaked Connery.
"I dunno," replied Cole, "but I'm going to find out."
"You're not thinking of actually going in there?" said Mirage.
Cole nodded. "And you and Argile are coming with me."
Both Knights started to object, but Cole stopped them. "Listen. This may be our only chance to find out what that was. Someday, that knowledge may mean the difference in winning or losing a battle. We have to know what that light was."
Neither Knight voiced an objection after that. Next, Cole looked at Connery and Fox. "If we don't make it back, you two must continue on to Yis-Toril." Both of them nodded silently.
With nothing left to say, Cole, Mirage, and Argile turned their horses and headed into the enemy encampment. The three of them easily slipped past the perimeter sentries. Three quarters of the way there, the small band dismounted and continued on foot. "We better do something to cover up our identities, or else we'll be spotted immediately," whispered Mirage.
"Good point," replied Cole. "Okay, get your cloaks from the saddle bags, and put them on. That should at least give us some cover."
"Oh, I really feel safe now," muttered Mirage.
Cole gave him a cold stare, but said nothing. The three men secured the horses and made a mad dash for the camp. Integration into the camp itself was relatively easy. Aside from the perimeter sentries, there were no guards in sight. So, Cole and the two Knights entered without any resistance. "This was too easy," whispered Argile. "I don't like it."
"I agree," said Cole. "However, we can't turn back now."
Mirage's hand moved to the hilt of his Scimitar. "Still, let's be ready for anything." Cole and Argile responded by each laying a reassuring hand on their own weapons.
Vasen watched Miraje disappear through the Gate. The Blood Dragon was glad to see the Shadow Knight go. Now, he was the only one in charge here. Vasen was about to start bellowing orders, when a powerful aura caught his attention. "It can't be?" he said in a low voice. "Why would he come here if he just ordered the other one to return to Xobelisk?"
The Dragon motioned for several soldiers to come over. "Yes, my lord?" asked one.
"There is an intruder in the camp," answered Vasen. "I want him found and brought to me, alive." The soldiers bowed and ran off.
Vasen began to scan the army around him. Somehow, the Demon Dragonmaster's counter part had slipped past the perimeter guards and entered the camp. "How?" Vasen asked himself. "Wouldn't I have felt him long before now?" This new fact disturbed the Demon Dragon. This "Dragonmaster" seemed to be more powerful than he thought. The way Kole had spoken of the position, it seemed like a "Dragonmaster" was weak. Vasen smiled to himself. "Perhaps I'll get to find out the truth very soon."
There was another flash of light towards the center of the camp. "That way," said Cole with a gesture.
"Are you crazy?" hissed Mirage. "That's the center of the camp! We'll get caught!"
"I don't care," answered Cole harshly. "I have to see what's making that light."
Cole didn't give the Pirate time to respond. The Dragonmaster broke into a fast walk in the direction of the light's source. He was so intent on his goal, that Cole didn't notice the increase of activity among the camp's inhabitants.
"The natives seem restless," said Mirage with a hint of worry.
"They do at that," replied Argile. "Cole, I suggest we turn back. I believe they are aware of our presence within the camp."
Cole ignored the Black Knight and pushed on. Finally, the Dragonmaster stopped. His eyes went wide at what he saw. In the center of the camp, there were several rather large stone blocks arranged in a arch similar to part of the circle of stones he had seen in the Dragon Ruins. "A transporter," he said in a horse whisper. "That's how they're moving so fast."
A movement caught his attention, and the Dragonmaster turned to look. A giant of a man in blood red armor had appeared near the stone arch. Suddenly, Cole and the man locked eyes. Cole's face went white as the other raised his hand and pointed. "Intruders! Capture them!"
No longer in need of disguises, Cole and the Knights discarded their cloaks and drew their weapons. The three heroes stood their ground as a wave of monsters crashed down upon them. "Dragon Flame!" shouted Cole. A dragon of fire slew from the tip of his blade and exploded against the on coming creatures. A universal howl of pain echoed through out the air. "Run! I'll hold them at bay!"
"We can't!" shouted Mirage. "They're all around us!"
Argile began to swat away the surrounding monsters with wide swings of his Axe. "I guess we have to stay and fight." An ogre lunged at him, but it soon found the Black Dragon's Axe in its chest.
Mirage made several quick swipes with his Scimitar, and a few goblins fell dead. "They're not going to just circle us for long!" he warned. "We've probably only got a couple more seconds before they swarm!"
Cole quickly slid the Dragon Shield on to his left arm. The Goddess' Sword gleamed in the surrounding fire light. "Back to back!" he cried. The three men slowly moved until they were all back to back with the Hades Army all around them. The Dragonmaster roared a battle cry, and the three of them exploded into action.
Fox sat crossed legged as Connery paced back and forth. "Calm yourself, Connery. Worrying will do nothing."
The thief continued to pace. "I can't," he snapped. He suddenly stopped and grabbed the White Dragon's Spear. "I'm going in."
Fox remained seated. "No you are not. Cole told us to wait. He is our leader, and we must follow his orders."
"To hell with his orders!" shouted Connery. "Something's wrong, I can feel it."
"The small one is right," said a voice from behind. "Your friends are in danger."
Fox turned his head and saw a figure standing within the shadows. "And how do you know this?" asked Fox, who was now standing.
The figure merely raised a gloved hand and pointed into the distance. Both Knights looked in the indicated direction. At first there was nothing. Suddenly, explosions filled the night sky. Weapons in hand, Fox and Connery leapt onto their mounts. Fox turned to say something to the mysterious figure, but he was gone. "Come on, Fox!" yelled Connery. "What are you waiting for!?"
Fox shook his head and snapped the reins of his horse. The two Knights galloped into the night to aid their friends, although, they may already have been too late.
Cole ducked under an axe and drove his Sword into the gut of gnoll. Hot blood sprayed everywhere. Cole ignored the gore and immediately parried the attack of an arch-fiend. He deflected the fiend's various attacks with the Dragon Shield, while cutting down several nearby orcs with his Sword. Not too far away, Mirage and Argile were having similar difficulties. The Pirate Lord was surrounded by a group of trolls. No matter how many of the Blue Knight's attacks connected, the trolls regenerated within minutes. Argile was being assaulted by several fire giants. The only thing that saved the Black Knight was the fact, that despite the size mismatch, his own strength matched the giants'. He parried the sword of a giant, grabbed its wrist, and threw the hulking monster into a group of charging goblins.
Mirage sliced through anther troll, and it burst into blue fire. "I don't think we can keep this up much longer!" he shouted.
Cole kick away a nergol and fought his way to the Blue Knight. "You're right. We have to get out of here!"
"How?" called Argile as he shouldered past an orc. The beast cried out just before its head rolled to the ground. "Our escape is blocked from all directions!"
Suddenly, the wave of monsters roared in horror. The three men looked up and saw a huge cat of fire wreaking havoc among the Hades Army. Behind the fire beast, Connery and Fox came charging in. A beam of frost shot from Connery's Spear and froze a mynotauros in mid attack. The White Knight jumped from his stead, landed and propelled himself off of the frozen bull monster, and onto the back of a hydra. Without pause, Connery drove his Spear into the back of the beast, killing it instantly. As it collapsed to the ground, he stood and posed triumphantly. "Hail to the king, baby!" he shouted.
A raptor lunged at the posing thief, but its attack fell short as a fire arrow pierced its skull. "No time for posing, Connery!" yelled Fox as he released another barrage of arrows.
The Red and White Knights quickly hacked and slashed their way to the other three heroes. "What are you doing here!?" shouted Cole as another imp fell to his Sword. "I thought I told you to stay behind!"
"You know we hate to miss a good party," replied Connery. With a few quick words and a wave of his Spear, the little thief erected a wall of ice between the party and several hundred beasts. "Besides, we thought you might be lonely. So how are we getting out of this one?" he asked with a smile.
Cole couldn't help but smile at the thief. "We have to get to that stone arch. If we can make it work, that's our ticket out of here."
The wall of ice began to crumble around them. "Well then what are we waiting for?" said Mirage with a grin. "Let's kick some ass."
With renewed vigor, the Knights and the Dragonmaster made a run for the stone arch ahead. "Argile! You take point with me!" ordered Cole. "Mirage and Connery! You two cover our flanks! Fox! Watch our backs!"
The group charged into the mass of monsters. Argile kept the beasts at bay with wide slashes of his Axe. Cole released several small fireballs into the crowd and smiled as the monsters fled in terror. They had almost reached the stone arch, when the monsters suddenly stopped attacking. The five men cautiously continued forward. Cole looked ahead and saw that the arch was only twenty feet away, but within that distance stood the man in blood red armor. "Impressive," was all he said. His voice was husky and filled with hate. "You're more resourceful than I thought."
"Who are you?" challenged Cole. "And why do you invade these lands?"
"I am Vasen," he replied. "And the other is not for me to answer." He reached back and drew the large sword strapped to his back. "Now lay down your weapons and come along quietly."
"Like hell we will," hissed Mirage.
"Then so be it." Vasen waved a hand and the monsters converged on the heroes again.
"Dragon Tear!" cried Cole. A dragon of ice flew from the tip of his sword and summoned forth a storm of ice blocks. All the attackers fell back before the awesome power of the Dragon magic, except one. Vasen strode past the summoned ice blocks. One nearly hit him, but he quickly released a fireball as a counter. "Is that the best you can do?"
He raised his sword to attack, when suddenly a black dirk pierced his armor and drove into his arm. The giant man roared in pain and stepped back. "Go now!" shouted a voice from somewhere. "Hit the jewel on the side of the left stone to activate the Gate!"
With determination, Cole and the Knights made a final dash for the stone arch. The Dragonmaster saw a purple jewel on the left stone. "Fox!" called Cole. "Hit the jewel!"
The Red Knight responded with a quick fire arrow that struck the jewel dead center. The space between the stones burst into a brilliant white light, and the five men jumped in without any second thoughts.
Damion took one quick look back at Vasen. "You've felt my sting, demon! Remember it! For we shall meet again!" Then he jumped into the Gate after Cole and the Knights.