The Dust Settled
"Die, Zakajz!" The instant Jarod grasped the weapon, Tyr's combat experience merged with his, greatly increasing his fighting strength.
Jarod leaped into the air and swung his new weapon down at Zakajz's head.
"No! That's impossible!" Zakajz hurriedly raised his pincers to block, but the force of the blow far exceeded his defenses.
The power of order cleaved through Zakajz's pincers, broke through his defenses, and severed his head.
His enormous head fell to the ground. Even in death, Zakajz could not understand why he had lost to a bug and a soul.
After Zakajz fell, Jarod used the power of order in the sword to purify his corpse completely.
"We've won!" Jarod raised his weapon and shouted.
"Victory!" The other warriors also began celebrating their hard-won victory.
"Are you Guardian Tyr?" Apophis asked as he approached Tyr's spectral form.
"I am. You look like a Vrykul?" Tyr answered Apophis's question.
"Yes. After you sacrificed yourself, my ancestors chose to stay behind and protect your tomb."
"Thank you for everything you've done. Your mission is over. I'm about to fade away. Zakajz is truly dead, and the purpose that held me here has been fulfilled." As Tyr finished speaking, his spectral form began to fade.
"With you here, I can rest easy about this world. The titans will be proud of you too."
With those words, Tyr's spectral form faded away completely.
"Your people's actions earned Tyr's admiration, my friend," Jarod said as he walked over to Apophis.
"Yes. Now I can't wait to go back up and tell my people everything I've been through."
"Let's go up now," Apophis said to Jarod.
"Get ready to go home!" Jarod shouted.
"Home! Home!" Everyone was overjoyed, and happiness filled the air.
The sound of cracking stone reached everyone's ears, and cracks appeared in the tomb chamber's ceiling. The chamber's self-destruct mechanism had been activated.
When Tyr's weapon was taken, the entire tomb began to collapse.
"Quick! Get back outside!" Jarod shouted. Then he helped a wounded man toward the exit.
Everyone in the allied forces supported one another as they ran toward the exit.
Falling fragments of stone struck the ground, kicking up dust that obscured the allied forces' vision. The falling rocks also blocked their escape.
"Quick, quick, quick!" Apophis smashed a falling rock and pulled a fallen soldier to his feet.
"We defeated Zakajz! These rocks won't stop us either!" Jarod said, shattering the boulder in front of him with a swing of his sword.
Jarod's words restored the confidence of everyone in the allied forces.
Finally, just as the tomb was about to collapse, everyone in the allied forces escaped.
Seeing that everyone in the allied forces was out, the Shamans outside relinquished control of the Water Elementals.
Boom! A powerful torrent flooded the entire tomb. Watching it happen, everyone marveled at the power of nature.
"That was quite a thrilling adventure," Apophis said.
"Yes, we almost didn't make it back," Jarod said.
"Tell our people to prepare a feast to celebrate this hard-won victory," Apophisfis said to the scout beside him.
Jarod also ordered everyone to take a short rest.
Night fell, and a grand bonfire feast was underway in the Vrykul village.
Elves and Vrykul celebrated their victory together.
"Brother, that battle was thrilling," Apophis said, walking over to Jarod with a large mug of ale in his hand.
"Yes. If only our fallen brothers could have joined this feast," Jarod said, taking a sip of the Vrykul's strong liquor.
Unlike elven wine, Vrykul liquor had a fiery bite.
"To our fallen brothers!" Jarod said, raising his cup.
"To our fallen brothers!" Everyone raised their cups.
"Where do you plan to take your people to live next?" Jarod asked Apophis, who was drinking beside him, after the toast.
"Leave? Why would I leave?"
"Didn't Tyr say your mission was already complete?"
"This place suits us well, and we've lived here for a long time. We're deeply attached to every blade of grass and every tree here."
"True, this place suits you well."
"Brother, there's something I want to ask you," Apophis said, looking at Jarod as he drank.
"What is it?" Jarod put down his cup and looked at Apophis.
"Why can those champions of yours who aren't warriors use the power of nature?" Apophis asked.
"Those are Shamans and mages," Jarod answered.
"Mages are a profession we inherited from the Ancient Kaldorei Empire, while Shamans are a profession that can commune with nature, first created by my king."
"What is it, brother? You look like you have something to tell me," Jarod said, looking at the somewhat bashful Apophis.
"Can you teach us this kind of magic?"
"Uh, that's not for me to decide, my brother."
"Can you tell me why you want us to pass this power on to you?"
"I saw this power in the tomb. I think it could help us survive better."
"Just survive?"
"All right, it could also help us wipe out those we consider powerful enemies."
"I see. Can you promise you won't abuse this power once you have it?"
"I'll keep my people in check."
"But what about after you die? Won't your people stir up conflict for their own selfish desires?"
"Yours isn't the only Vrykul clan."
"Well, I hadn't thought that far ahead. I just thought it could help my people survive better," Apophis said.
"That's something a chieftain ought to consider." Jarod looked at Apophis. He saw much that was good in Apophis's eyes, and no trace of wicked intent.
"I'll report this to my king. If he agrees, we'll pass this power on to you."
"Really? Thank you very much, my brother," Apophis said, excitement all over his face as he drained his drink in one gulp.
Jarod patted Apophis on the arm and said, "Now let's get back to enjoying the feast."
"Yes, yes, let's enjoy the feast." Apophis excitedly ran over to the bonfire and began to dance.
Jarod shook his head as he watched Apophis dance.
He summoned a messenger and had him report everything that had happened here truthfully to King Snyder, and ask whether magic or the elements should be passed on to the Vrykul.