CHAPTER 4: CREATURE

After further apologies and convincing points from Chief Ezra to the councilmen, they finally became one house and began discussing the problems they face within the walls. It was in the middle of the night on that Friday and the whole fortress was calm and quiet, all the councilmen were still at the council hall. Suddenly, a strange creature twice the size of an average man broke through the window made of thick glass with enormous force, hitting the other end of the wall, and it fell to the ground. Everyone in the hall was shocked as they roughly stood up from their seats and gathered at the other end of the wall. Not every Councilman in that hall at that time could use magic, so the ones with zero level of sorcery stood behind the magicians as they all took defense positions. Chief Ezra being the head of the councilmen and the most powerful magician among them all stood in front. Chief Ezra was frightened because he has never seen a creature like this ever in his entire life, he wondered if the creature was alive. Chief Ezra slowly went closer while the others stood back.

"Be careful chief." Steven said this to Chief Ezra quietly.

Chief Ezra looked back at Steven, and he nodded. He then took more little steps further and got close enough, and he did not notice any sign of life in this creature. Chief Ezra turned around facing the others again, then he slowly and quietly said in a low tone.

"Be quiet everyone, until we know what we face here, let us not wake it if it's alive."

This creature laid still facing the opposite direction so all they could properly see was the behind body of the creature. "What kind of beast is that chief?" one of the councilmen asked unconcernedly and carelessly. Chief Ezra turned to scold him for his careless manner of speaking after he had just warned everyone about shouting. Chief Ezra then turned around, facing all the councilmen for the third time. Right before he could utter a word the laying strange beast with two upward horns and a fat strong tail arose from its unconsciousness spitting green lava from his mouth towards the roof and carelessly wagging its tail. Everyone in the hall switched focus immediately and concentrated on this creature. This happened so fast. As the raining green lava came down, Steven Belmont quickly created a magic shield that covered everyone. All the councilmen were in shock because they were all experiencing something new.

Nathaniel: "what in the light's name is this? I have never seen such in all my life"!

Chief Ezra quickly opened a portal and told everyone without magic to leave the hall and wait outside. The strange creature kept on spitting green lava towards them relentlessly. Chief Ezra enchanted the room with an impenetrable spell, making it impossible for nothing to come in or go out.

"I do not care where and what this thing is anymore, we cannot let it get out of here." Chief Ezra said authoritatively aggressive.

A serious battle between the creature and the sorcerers started, it was so serious that the walls shook and the earth vibrated. The shield was created by Steven Belmont in such a way that it would repel any force coming from the outside, but it allowed any from the inside. So, some magicians within the shield shot fireballs at this creature from within the shield while some fired piercing flames from their hands made by their magic, but nothing could penetrate this creature's skin. This mysterious creature kept on spitting green lava towards them as it moved around. All of them stayed and fought from the magical shield Steven Belmont had created earlier so none of the creature's attack could harm them.

Chief Ezra: "we need a better strategy, all of our attacks has done nothing to it, not even a scratch. We cannot take this thing down in this manner, let's give it a taste of its medicine."

Chief Ezra said this to the others after thinking of a better way to attack the creature.

Nicholas: "I like the sound of that"

Nathaniel: "I think I know what you're thinking, portal attack uh?"

Chief Ezra: "everyone, listen attentively, Steven will bring down the shield leaving all of us vulnerable to attack, then it won't be able to resist spitting that consuming green substance on us. I will then create a gigantic portal big enough to contain every attack, and the other opening of the portal will be at the back of the creature. Let's see if this will work, Steven be ready to bring the shield back up when this is done".

Steven Belmont: "are you sure about this?"

Nathaniel: "common son trust the process, Chief and I have done this a lot"

Chief Ezra: "that's right Steven, trust the process. On my mark everyone!!."

The six eyed creature with no ears nose and mouth kept on spitting massive amount of burning green magma on the shielded magicians as they were all discussing their next move. So, Steven then brought down the shield while they all waited as Chief Ezra planned. The creature watched them for a minute or two as it stood still.

"I do not understand, why is it nothing moving?" Nicholas asked panicky.

Councilman 1: "why won't it attack us anymore, did it hear all what we said"?

Chief Ezra: "hold your grounds everyone"

Nathaniel: "hold what f×cking grounds? Steven, please take the shield back up"

Chief Ezra: "no one should make a move yet, we all wait and as we stick to the plan"

Steven Belmont: "I am with you chief, ready when you're ready"

Nathaniel: "Steven create another shield, or I will, I will not die as a result of this nonsense plot". Confused Nathaniel kept on yelling out fear of the unknown

Nicholas: "don't say that, no one is dying, right chief?" Nicholas asked anxiously.

Nathaniel: "shut the f×ck up you young level one magician, you know nothing yet so do not talk when I'm talking."

Nicholas "please do not talk to me like that" Nicholas said this mumbling and stuttering"

As they argued, the creature with two heavy horns suddenly started running towards them aggressively with its head facing down, and its horns pointed forward. This was a highly intense moment for everyone.

Chief Ezra and the others all switched focus to the forceful and violent moving creature, they all positioned properly ready to enchant as this creature wasted no time in getting to them. When the creature got very close within range, Chief Ezra yelled "Steven!" as he opened a portal wide enough to contain the incoming creature. Steven did not know what the signal was for, but he did what he thought was the best for that situation and the first thing to come to his mind. Steven quickly cast a spell in a second that made the floor icy and slippery, making the fierce moving creature loose balance and fall as it slide towards the opened portal. This creature twice the size of an average man went through the portal unsteadily. Its leg entered first, then its whole body followed. When it got to the neck, Chief Ezra quickly closed the portal, leaving the creature's head right in front of them and its body at the other end of the hall. The creature got beheaded and all the councilmen got relieved.

Meanwhile, Malmö and jade stood outside the door of the council chamber. They had returned not too long ago with some amount of soil from the very same place Lord Bruce Belmont vanished, just as Chief Ezra told them to do. They took so much time on their journey because they went through the city on their way back, and because of the incident that occurred in the middle of the city, traffic was impossible to beat. Not only that, but they stood outside the doors and got the gist from about what happened inside the hall by the councilmen that were asked to leave the fight by Chief Ezra because they had no magic. Malmö and jade wanted to go in and help, but they could not get in because of the magical barrier that was guiding the walls. So all they could do was wait as they heard different heavy battle sounds from outside the hall. Minutes after the creature had been killed Steven got a phone call, he checked and saw that it was jade his brother calling, so he picked.

Steven Belmont: "where have you been?"

Jade Belmont: "we've been at the door trying to get in, what's happening in there?"

Steven told Chief Ezra that jade and Malmö are outside, so Chief Ezra brought down the barrier he created so everyone outside could come in. after they all entered he asked if that's everyone outside so he can raise the impenetrable barrier up again.

"Where is Jude?" Nathaniel asked authoritatively.

Nathaniel woods, also known as Nat, is the eldest of the councilmen and a level 5 sorcerer. Nat is one of the fastest swordsmen that ever lived. He is known for his lack of fear and anger towards enemies, Nat had always felt he should be chief leader of the councilmen, but he was placed as second in command instead. Lord Bruce told him that he will not be able to lead well and make proper decisions with a temper like that. So Chief Ezra Kazim was chosen instead because of his smarter way of thinking and higher level of magic. This made Nathaniel and Chief Ezra disagree about issues on a regular basis. Chief Ezra was a calm and peaceful person, while Nat was the opposite, always full of rage and ready for a battle.

Councilman 1: "he's not here" of the councilmen replied Nathaniel.

Jude is a member of the council, but he had done many suspicious things in the past that made chief Ezra and Nathaniel always keep an eye on him. Nathaniel suspected him for everything that went wrong in the castle.

Jade: "oh my….! What in the light's name is that thing and where did it come from?"

Steven: "even the chief does not know yet, let's wait and see what he can figure out from its cadaver. Where have you and Malmö been?"

Jade: "we went through the city own our way back, and we discovered something terrible."

Steven and Jade stood at a corner of the hall as they chatted like brothers do. Jade told Steven about the dark hole in the middle of the united city and how it killed plenty of innocent souls. Chief Ezra laid the creature's body on the hall table with its head right next to it as he tried to dissect the creature's impenetrable body with his tools and with Malmö's assistance. Nathaniel, on the other hand, questioned the others on Jude's whereabouts.

Nathaniel: "what do you mean he left while the rest of you stayed outside? Did he not say where he was going?"

Nicholas: "there is no need to get all hot and bothered about his absence, he probably got scared and went home"

Nat: "I have told you not to talk when I am talking, do you want to see me roar? Uh? Do you?" Nathaniel said this in an aggressive and bellicose loud tone as he approached Nicholas, but Nicholas did not move even if he was frightened. Nathaniel wrathfully stared at Nicholas in the eyes for a minute or two, and then he stepped back. Nat turned around and walked to Chief Ezra and calmly said to him. "Jude is missing again,"

Chief Ezra: "you think he has something to do with this? Do you want to find him?"

Nat: "No, lets deal with this first, we'll worry about that rat later."

Steven: "chief, I think you need to hear this, something disastrous is happening in the city as we speak"

Nicholas: "yes, I saw something about a dark hole on social media, I haven't had the time to look into it, I wonder why it hasn't been shown on TV yet"

Nat: "you could have said something at least, what is wrong with you, uh?"

Nicholas: "I was not sure about what it was, besides many people joke about stuff on the Internet all the time, I was hoping the news will tell us"

Chief Ezra: "what dark hole is that?"

Malmö joined the conversation and explained every single thing that he and jade came across in the city. He also explained how they heard about the Nobles putting an end to the increasing of the dark hole.

Steven: "chief whatever is going on in the city I think it has something to do with the server, that's why none of use were notified"

Chief Ezra had been trying to solve one problem and another just pops right up his face, he wasn't even aware of the dark hole in the city because he had not paid attention to his phone. He also didn't listen to the radio on the train because his head was filled with thoughts on what Anthony Dazel had told him.

Chief Ezra: "Steven and I will go to the city first thing tomorrow morning, for now, everyone who needs to rest may leave, go back to your families and prepare for the worst. I have just an hour more to work on this mysterious creature before dawn. Co hoo! Co hoo!" Chief Ezra said this as he coughed loudly. "You all can leave now"

Malmö: "Chief I will stay back and help, I do not need rest"

Nicholas: "me too"

Malmö and Nicholas stayed with Chief Ezra as every other person left the hall. Nathaniel went to find out if and what Jude will be planning next. Steven and Jade Belmont left as they chatted and did lots of catching up, consigning the project they were working on.

Chief Ezra forcefully opened the body of the creature with magic as he split it in two halves only to find out that the interior body of the creature had a very bizarre smell and gave a poisonous gas. Chief Ezra was the closest to the body, so the gas filled his face. The moment this happened, he tried to hold his breath as he stepped backwards, but he had already inhaled a bit of it. He fell to the ground slowly as he coughed. Malmö and Nicholas were frightened as they rushed towards the Chief to help him, but Chief Ezra was completely weak and drained. Chief Ezra could not move a muscle, so he laid still on the ground. Malmö then remembered Chief Ezra's medicine, so he dipped his hand inside Chief Ezra's robe and brought out a small silver flask that he always carried with him.

"How do I open it, Chief?" Malmö asked as he struggled to open the concealment of the flask in his usual foam of an old lady.

Nicholas: "how had can it be?, give it to me. Let me try" Nicholas said this has he collected the flask from Malmö. Malmö then transformed into a very huge and muscular man, then he dragged the flask from Nicholas and said.

"Leave it to me, tiny hands"

Malmö still struggled to open the flask with all the strength he had, and he could not. Lying Chief Ezra slowly and in a low voice uttered some magic words, then the flask opened by itself.

Malmö holding the flask said "oh" as he quickly stretched his hand to Chief Ezra's mouth and Chief Ezra took a gulped of the medicine from the enchanted flask. In a minute, Chief Ezra could stand strong and firm again, so he walked to the table where the body of the creature was kept and stared his dissection. Chief Ezra then asked Malmö to quickly get him any jar or container he could find in the drawer. Malmö and Nicholas hurriedly got jars for the Chief with no time to waste, Chief Ezra took a portion of the poisonous liquid that ejected in the form of gas from the creatures inside and sealed it in one jar. He then kept all the vital organs he could preserve in separate containers big enough for each. And then he magically compressed all of his load into a tiny purse that could fit his pocket. After all this had happened, Steven walked in to meet Chief Ezra, so they could head for the city as planned.