Legacy

Night had only recently fallen but the residents of Dorsett had already collectively turned in for the night. As was commonplace, the farmers and merchants had brought an end to their day at a very modest hour. For little could they afford to lose sleep while trying to keep their humble town of fewer than a hundred souls alive.

Within one of the dwellings, a girl of no more than four years was asleep in her bed. She looked as close to angelic as one could be as she breathed in sweet puffs of air.

Standing beside the girl’s bed was Shadow Kahn’s Beast. The creature had at one time been the man’s living body, but it was now a hulking monster. The Beast wore a robe as black as night and concealed its hands within leather gloves of the same color. But the most ominous feature of the Beast’s ensemble was its hood, which had no holes through which its wearer could see. Though that did nothing to hinder it.

The Beast made nary a move as it loomed over the girl. Such an innocent face seemed to have the trespasser mesmerized. It was only after a lengthy gaze did the Beast finally begin to show signs of life when it reached behind its back and retrieved a battle axe from seemingly out of nowhere. It then proceeded to cut the slumbering child in half.

Shortly after the Beast had taken its first life, it began a relentless slaughter of the entire town. The tormented screams of victims replaced the sound of chirping crickets and cries of pain took the place of owls calling out to the moon. With the town of Dorsett ablaze, it took no time at all for total panic to take a firm hold of its citizens.

“Michael!” cried a woman who was trying desperately to find her husband. “Michael!” With her attention so focused on what was in front of her, the woman was unaware of what was behind her, as she backed into what had already claimed the life of her beloved. Before she could turn around, the Beast grabbed the woman by the head and effortlessly crushed her skull within its powerful grasp.

A man unaware of the unsettling truth behind the gruesome invader drove a pitchfork into the Beast’s stomach. But it was realized quickly that the attack had done little to bring an end to the bloody rampage. The Beast took hold of the man’s arms, and just when it felt as if every bone within them was about to break, the Beast ripped them off. As the man screamed in horrific pain, the Beast drove its fist into the top of his head, bringing a quick end to his life.

In search of more prey, the Beast made its way down the center of town. And during its march its robe brushed over the head of one of its victims. A mere venture under the Beast’s clothing was enough to reduce the fallen man’s head to a bare, scorched skull.

Fortunately for James and the others, their journey would soon be taking them to a town where they could find suitable lodging for the night.

“I’m so tired,” said Aiko. “When are we gonna stop?”

“We’re almost to Dorsett,” said Archer. “I’m sure they can accommodate the four of us for the night.”

“It’d better not be much longer.”

During the past few hours Jaycee had been taking quick peeks over at James. A light perspiration had been sprinkled along his upper lip and forehead for quite some time. And every few minutes he would wipe it away, but Jaycee wasn’t easily fooled. She knew James was falling ill. A nervous sweat could only last so long, and Jaycee had noticed his sweating hours ago. James’ eyes were also barely open, as if growing heavy from fatigue. Hoping that she was only being overly concerned, and to not worry the others, Jaycee made no mention of it.

“Will they still be awake?” asked Aiko.

“Well, it’s a farming community,” replied Archer. “So . . .”

“Never mind,” said Aiko, cutting Archer off. “I see light.”

A flicker of light could be seen in the distance, and it was coming from the area where Archer knew the town of Dorsett to be located.

“That’s a strange looking light,” said Archer.

“Maybe they’re having a celebration.”

What the travelers found waiting for them at Dorsett was more horrific than anything anyone ever could have imagined. Mangled bodies were strewn along the road and nary a single building had been spared from a raging inferno.

“What happened here?” asked a horrified Jaycee.

“What could have done this?” asked Archer.

From around the corner of a burning building emerged Sage. He took his place on the road and began staring down the group.

“He’s still alive?” asked a wide-eyed James. “But how?”

“To be more precise,” said Shadow Kahn, emerging from around the corner of the same burning building, “he is alive . . . again.”

“Why did you do this?” asked Archer.

“Did I not already tell you? I have to punish all of those who wronged me. And this town was filled with the guilty.”

“All of them?” exclaimed James, drawing his sword.

“I have no patience to sort through the masses. This was the quickest way.”

“You’re a bastard,” exclaimed Aiko.

“How lady-like. Tell me, James. Is this latest display of my power still not enough to convince you that you should side with me?”

“Never,” exclaimed James. “I’ll never side with you.”

“You will. Very shortly . . . you will.”

“You just don’t get it, do you?” exclaimed Aiko. “He said no.”

“That one never shuts her mouth, does she?” asked Shadow Kahn. “But that attitude hardly disguises her many shortcomings.”

Had frustration and anger not been festering within Aiko for days, she surely would have let the provoking comment go, but she had been wound so tightly recently that she ignored any consequences and made a mad charge toward her target.

“Aiko, no!” exclaimed Archer.

Before she could get to Shadow Kahn, though, Aiko would first have to get through Sage. To do this, Aiko threw her full weight behind a strike she knew would vanquish him. The attack was futile, however, as Sage caught Aiko by the arm and hurled the girl through the window of the nearest burning home.

Before anyone had the chance to react to what had just happened, Sage had already drawn his weapon and begun his own mad charge. Having been on his guard, James was able to defend against the assault.

“James!” exclaimed Jaycee.

“Don’t worry about me,” said James. “Help Aiko. She needs you more than I do.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” said Sage.

With Aiko’s life hanging in the balance, Jaycee and Archer had no choice but to leave James and assist Aiko.

“I don’t know how you bested me in our last encounter,” said Sage. “But you won’t be as fortunate this time. I won’t disgrace myself in the presence of the master.”

Sage’s attacks were just as powerful and determined as in their last meeting. This left James unable to mount any kind of counterattack, as all he could do was defend himself from wave after wave of furious strikes.

The inferno surrounding James drove his body temperature to a dangerously high level. And to make matters worse, his vision was beginning to blur. With an opponent as formidable as Sage to contend with, even the slightest hindrance could lead to an untimely demise.

“Not feeling well?” asked Sage. “Well, don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

“How are you alive?” asked James. “How is this possible?”

As a response to the question, Sage continued to attack.

With each strike that James deflected, he knew the battle was drawing nearer to its conclusion, as his weakening body was in no shape to continue fending off someone whose strength was at such a superior level.

As James had feared, his body finally gave out, making it possible for Sage to knock him to the ground with one furious series of strikes.

With his opponent in no shape to fight back, Sage was afforded the opportunity to take all the time he wanted. He lifted his sword slowly above his head, then used every ounce of strength within him to thrust his blade at James’ head. Only by the narrowest of margins did Sage miss striking his fallen opponent.

“You have no idea what the master has in store for this world, do you?” asked Sage. “I suppose those who die before that happens will be the fortunate ones. Would you like for me to make you one of the fortunate ones?”

In his current state, James was unable to reply.

Sage removed his sword from the ground, then crouched beside James. “Killing you would be far too easy,” he said. “I want you to see what’s going to happen to this miserable world of yours. I want you to feel the same pain that everyone else is going to feel. I want you to suffer alongside them. And I want you to know what it’s like to be powerless to stop your entire world from crumbling down around you.”

“I’ll stop him,” said James. The glazed look in his eyes made James’ statement seem all the more ridiculous.

“You can’t stop the master,” said Sage. “No one can. He and his power have no equal. The only power in this world strong enough to stop him is his own, and I highly doubt the master would ever use his own power against himself. Do you understand what I mean? If you know what’s good for you, then you will take my words to heart.”

Having soundly bested James in battle and having had his say, Sage sheathed his sword and calmly returned to his master’s side.

“You showed great restraint,” said Shadow Kahn.

“I was merely following orders, my lord,” replied Sage. “You said you wanted him alive, so I kept him alive.”

Jaycee exited from the burning building first. Archer followed shortly thereafter, holding a beaten, but still living, Aiko in his arms.

“Why was I the only one who got thrown around like that?” groaned Aiko.

“You actually have to ask?” asked Archer.

Seeing James lying motionless on the ground, Jaycee immediately went to him. “James!” she screamed. “Are you alright?”

James could do little more than stare blankly at the sky.

“Come,” said Shadow Kahn.

After one last glare at James, Sage joined his master in departing from the town that had paid the ultimate price for its part in creating the monster known as Shadow Kahn.