Kaleb walked face first into Jar-lock’s back as he exited the portal. The Warlock was examining a nearby stone wall that held several old style torches in holders. The light cast an orange glow on the stone hallway. Jar-lock jolted from the impact before moving forward and apologizing.

“Sorry about that, Professor. I was trying to see if we can take one of these torches.”

“Guh!” Kaleb said as Abby shoulder-charged into his back.

Abby recoiled from the impact and slapped into the portal. “Owwww!”

Kaleb turned to check on her and noticed that she was leaning against the dark portal. But, she wasn’t falling through it. Kaleb coughed at the pain in his side and tapped Jar-lock, getting his attention. When Jar-lock saw where Kaleb was looking he nodded.

“Yeah, Deckart noticed it too. That’s probably only an entrance the exit is probably somewhere else.”

“Ahem. That makes sense. Of course, the alternative is that this is a trap for us and there is no way out.” Kaleb said.

Abby rubbed her shoulder while saying. “That’s a cheery thought.”

“Haha, that's why Deckart and Robert went ahead to recon the area.” Jar-lock said.

Kaleb twisted his head in confusion. “So now they wanna be cautious?”

Jar-lock just shrugged as Abby looked around the hallway. Kaleb also studied the hallway while he strolled around. The hall way was close to five feet across and made entirely of stone with several sconces every few feet. The stone floor they were standing on seemed to shine in the light. Kneeling down Kaleb saw that the floor was wet and water was flowing between the stone blocks.

He heard the others walk up to to where he knelt. Abby knelt down next to him and Jar-lock asked.

“Underground stream?”

“Hopefully, nothing too big. Shoal Creek isn’t that far from the school.” Kaleb said standing back up.

Jar-lock shrugged. “That’s if that portal let out anywhere near the school.”

Abby brushed the dirt off her pants asking. “How far could the portal take us?”

“Depends on the Magic user that created it. Although a group of magicians could have created it. If that was the case then we could be anywhere in the country.” Jar-lock explained.

Abby exhaled as Kaleb shook his head. He figured they farthest they could be teleported was within the state. That fact that magic users could port themselves anywhere in the country if they worked together was terrifying… and awesome. Kaleb looked down the hall and wondered about Deckart and Robert when he heard unintelligible shouting echoing down the hall.

Kaleb and Jar-lock shared a glance as Abby took off down the hall. They followed the small woman as she ran down the hallway. It surprised Kaleb that there weren’t any doors in the hallway; it was just a long hall. As they ran further down the hall, the shouting grew louder and Kaleb was sure he could make out a word here and there.

Finally, they arrived at a single open door after running for a few minutes. The sound of fighting emanated from the door along with the sounds of Deckart’s blaster pistol. Kaleb gripped Abby’s arm before she rushed through the door. She gave a yelp of surprise that was drowned out by the sounds of battle. Kaleb put his finger to his lips and signaled for his friends to be quiet. He moved to the side of the open door and peered in.

Deckart and Robert were in a large cavern hiding behind an upturned table. The House of Druchuvin had strewn a dozen similar looking tables about the large room. Kaleb guessed this was a cafeteria. Icicles, fireballs, and stones pelted Deckart and Robert’s table as Deckart returned fire with his blaster. The Magicians were at the other end of the cavern hiding behind their own tables. Kaleb couldn’t make how many of them there were.

Turning back to Abby he whispered. “Can you Shadow Walk behind them?”

She nodded saying. “Yeah, but then I am left all alone with a bunch of angry magic users.”

“You only need to distract them long enough for the rest of us to get in close.” Kaleb explained before turning to Jar-lock and asking. “What are the chances these guys have shields?”

Jar-lock looked around the open door and studied the group before he answered. “Well, they wouldn’t be taking cover if they had studied shield spells but I’m sure a few of them have. They probably didn’t have time to say the incantations.”

“Those guys outside didn’t have to say any spells.” Kaleb pointed out.

“Some magic doesn’t include a verbal component. Warlock spells are largely somatic while Wizards are mostly verbal, and all Magic users can use magical items as shortcuts for some spells.” Jar-lock explained.

Abby glanced through the open doorway worriedly as a chunk of Deckart and Robert’s table was blown off by a fireball. “So there’s no way to tell if these assholes will go from fleshy glass cannons to armored tanks?”

Jar-lock shook his head. “Not really, but only a powerful Magic user can hold a shield and cast a spell.”

“Strickton didn’t have a problem tossing my ass around while he maintained a shield.” Kaleb noted thinking of his first patrol.

Abby held up a finger. “But he had the Mad Witch Korrigan’s Foci.”

“And she is a massively powerful bad-ass, from what I hear.” Jar-lock added.

Kaleb nodded and looked into the cafeteria. His friends cover was growing smaller and smaller. He turned to Abby and nodded. “Do it. Jar-lock and I will charge them. Can you do something about their cover Jar?”

Jar-lock nodded and mumbled the start of his spell. Abby looked pensive before the shadows in the hallway's corner stretched out and swallowed her. She sank deeper into the dark before the shadows retracted to their initial position and she disappeared. Kaleb stared down at the other end of the cavern and gauged how long he would have to run. He guessed it was 70 feet from one end to the other; he would have to be fast.

Jar-lock seemed to hum with power beside. Kaleb kept and on the Magic users and drew his Cybar pistol. He would pelt them with spikes and blaster fire as he ran then go at them with his Stun Glove. He cast a glance at Deckart to see the detective vent his own pistol and Robert seemed to look annoyed at having nothing to do.

“AAAAH!”

“WHAT THE HELL?”

“It’s a Mutie!”

“Get her!”

As soon as Kaleb heard the Magic users scream out he rushed out of the doorway swinging his gun up. He ran down the center of the room sending spikes and balls of fire energy into their cover until Jar-lock released his spell. Kaleb felt a blast of air zoom past him as he ran and the tables the Magicians were using as cover flew aside, revealing several robed people.

Kaleb couldn’t make out Abby as he ran, but he noticed a robed person toward the back with an icicle hovering above his head mid-throw. Kaleb did his best to aim his spike launcher and fired. The spike flew through the air and missed the robed figure by inches but he got the guy‘s attention. The rest of the evil Magic user had rallied themselves and were sending more spells his way.

Kaleb saw a blast from Deckart’s pistol catch guy in the chest as he veered sideways to avoid large a blast of electricity. Kaleb fired a back at the guy as he jumped a wooden table and veered back to the center of the room. Kaleb finally crashed into the group of hooded men and slammed his foot hit the stomach of the first guy he saw. His heel spike stabbed into the man’s stomach, but he gripped Kaleb’s shoe and pull.

Kaleb had to hop forward to maintain his balance but as he did an icicle smashed into his face. He fell to the floor in pain and his pistol slipped from his hand. But he was thankful that the genius magician hadn’t stabbed him. He got his foot free and looked upward to see Jar-lock slam two fists full of flame into a hooded man’s face. He tried to get up but someone’s foot stomped on his shoulder. Instinctively, he grabbed at the ankle. Once he had a grip Kaleb jammed the button of his shock glove.

It was an awkward move, but he heard an electric snap and the man went rigid before falling backward. Standing up Kaleb deployed Shocky and deflected several stones magically thrown his way. He stayed on the defensive to take stock of the situation. Jar-lock had engulfed his arm in stone again and was using it to clothesline a guy about to stab Deckart with a weird-looking dagger. The detective had planted his knee in another guy's stomach and was vaporizing the guy’s head with his Pistol. Robert was bashing a female Sorcerer’s head in with a stool, apparently he lost his other dagger. Abby had just finished stabbing two guys in the neck and chest respectively and was also looking around. Kaleb counted four more members of the House of Druchuvin.

He charged back into the melee and used Shocky to ram a hooded person into the wall. He switched Shocky on and moved back sending a straight punch with his glove covered hand. The person collapsed in a heap and Kaleb turned in time to see the others finish the remaining three. Robert was already searching for something in the bodies as Deckart vented his gun.

Kaleb remembered his own gun and looked around for where it fell. As he did, he counted the number of hooded bad guys. In total, there were twelve people: eight men and four women strewn about the floor. They had won because of the element of surprise, but Kaleb felt that that wasn’t the only reason.

Kaleb hefted a large robed man up to look underneath him as he said. “I’m not bragging, but did that seem too easy?”

Abby shook her head as she bent down to loot a body. “That is bragging.”

“No, he’s right. I saw nothing more complex than a basic electric spell. They didn’t even attempt to shield themselves and once we were on them they fell into chaos.” Jar-lock said.

Deckart scratched his head while he looted. “So these are the newbies?”

“Have to be.” Kaleb agreed. “Which means…?”

Abby held up his pistol from where she crouched. “That their heavy hitters are further in.” She nodded to the doorway the large group had been defending.

Robert found his dagger and even collected a few from the looted enemies. “But where is my brother?”

“ARGHHHHHHHHH!”

A loud scream of pain echoed to them from the unexplored doorway. Robert’s head snapped around along with Deckart’s. They shared a glance before they both charged through the door. Jar-lock looked ready to say something, but they were both gone before he could get a word out. Abby stuffed her pockets full of loot before she gave Jar-lock and Kaleb a shrug and threw Kaleb his gun before following them. Kaleb shook his head and smiled at the Warlock.

“So no plan then?” Jar-lock asked exasperated.

Kaleb continued smiling as he headed to the door. “He is their nephew and brother. They are a little emotional.”

Jar-lock sighed loudly as he followed. “It’s a GAME.”

They both walked into a new stone hallway. This one was shorter than the first with them being able to see the end. Kaleb jogged as he carried on the conversation.

“Yeah, but where’s the fun if you're not at least a little invested. Sure, at the end of the day, we all get out of our pods and go back to our normal lives. But for a few hours, we get to be Super Heroes! Who wouldn’t want to jump into that kind of world wholeheartedly?”

Jar-lock gave a noncommittal gesture and ran alongside of Kaleb. The pair burst through the opposite door and stopped as they saw a large suspension bridge. Several thick ropes supported the bridge from the ceiling as it crossed a large dark chasm. Kaleb moved to the edge and looked down, but he couldn’t see a thing.

They could see their friends across the bridge huddled around a door. Kaleb blew out a breath and tested the first plank it seemed stable so he scurried across as fast as possible. He felt Jar-lock mutter something under his breath before the bridge shudder with the Warlock’s added weight. The bridge flexed and shook, but they made it across without incident and move to their friends.

As they approached, they saw Robert knelt down and trying to pry the lock with his dagger. The young man looked distraught as he tried to wrench his dagger up.

“AAAARRGGGGHHHHHH!”

Another scream echoed loudly from behind the door and Robert furiously wiggled his dagger. Kaleb saw Deckart about to intervene but he decided to try something. He gently padded Robert’s shoulder as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his pen-sized laser cutter. Robert looked at him wild-eyed before he removed his dagger and grabbed for the cutter. Kaleb jerked his tool away and moved over to cut the lock.

Kaleb twisted laser cutter’s tip and aimed it between the door where the bolt would be. Sparks leapt out of the door and fell to the ground. It only took him a few seconds to cut through the lock. When the party saw the sparks stop and Kaleb was putting his laser cutter back Robert shoved through the door.

“Thanks.” Deckart said as he paused at the door before he followed his nephew.

“What are you doing to him!” They all heard Robert shout.

The all shared a look before the burst through the door and found themselves on a raised platform looking down. The smell of decay was heavy in the room and as Kaleb looked down he realized why. A large circle of naked people surrounded a stone plinth. The people where unmoving and Kaleb thought he saw stab wounds in a couple. Laying down chained to the plinth was Rick, with a dagger in his chest.

The man standing above Rick’s form was staring at Robert with a wicked smiled on his face. He wore the same black robes as everyone else they had met. As Kaleb looked around he saw that another ten robed people where in alcoves dug into the cave wall. Kaleb was trying to process the scene when he heard Jar-lock retch loudly.

“Oh god.” The Warlock groaned. “The magic in here is toxic.”

The robed man standing over Rick laughed. “Hahahaha, that’s what the weak always say when standing in the presence of true power.”

“AAAAHHHHHHHH!”

*BAM*

Robert leapt down from their platform and charged the circle. Running full force into a golden barrier that flared to life as he got close. It tossed the boy back into the stone platform they were standing on. The man, who Kaleb was assuming was Alessandro Torero judging from his slight resemblance to Diana, laughed again as he stared down at Robert.

“Hehehe. I have to say if I knew he was a twin, I would have waited. Double the power would’ve had been something to see. Oh, well.” The man said.

Kaleb dropped from the platform and walked around the gold barrier. Deckart help Robert up and stared daggers at the man who had stabbed Rick. Abby and Jar-lock fanned out from the platform, with the latter looking pale. A sudden movement on the plinth caught Kaleb’s eyes, and he noticed that Rick’s body was convulsing.

Alessandro also noticed his sacrifice shaking. “Yes!” He shouted as stared down at Rick. “We are about to see the birth of a god made flesh. A great destroyer bound to our will. A being that shall cleanse the unclean from this world.”

Rick’s body twisted and bend as red and black smoke poured from his mouth. Kaleb saw carved runes on Rick’s body glow red. The room resounded in cheers and applause as the other members of Alessandro’s group watched what was happening. Ricks body convulsed harder and the stone plinth he was lying on cracked from the impact.

“Oh oh, this will be fun.” Alessandro said as he turned his back to the plinth to gloat across the golden barrier to Rick’s uncle and Brother. “The little bastard should feel honored that his body will house the great golden warrior, Broblex!”

Kaleb watched Ricks skin change color and his body growing larger. But he wasn’t turning gold, he was turning red. Kaleb briefly wondered if the title was a misnomer before he heard the sounds of shock from the other robed Magicians. Apparently something had gone wrong.

Kaleb looked over at Jar-lock and caught the Warlock’s eye. Jar-lock looked pale and sickly but he was standing ready. The Warlock nodded at Kaleb confirming his suspicions. Kaleb looked back to Alessandro who seemed to sense something was amiss. The Torero turned around and his eyes got wide at what he saw.

“RAAAAAGHR!”

An unearthly howl resounded from Rick’s throat as Kaleb watched black horns grow out of his head. Rick’s hair fell out and his teeth grew black and sharp. Rick’s body jerked itself off the plinth falling to the floor. Alessandro took an alarmed step back and hit the barrier. He shook his head as Rick’s body grew into a twelve foot tall horned demon.

The thing that had possessed Rick resembled a twelve foot bodybuilder with the legs of a goat and the horns of a bull. It stomped toward Alessandro and picked up the Sorcerer by the waist. Kaleb noticed the demon had four fingers on each hand with four sharp claws. Claws it dug into a screaming Alessandro’s waist and pulled him apart, bisecting him.

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

The cavern went silent as the demon roared in triumph. It slammed its fists into the golden barrier shaking the whole room. The room burst into motion as the several members of Alessandro’s little group summoned portals. Others cast spells on nearby walls creating tunnels they escaped into.

Kaleb looked at his own group. Jar-lock looked sick, Robert and Deckart looked worried and angry, and Abby looked excited. Kaleb thought about it and checked his equipment. His Sun Gun was empty, his sword was broke, his spike launcher had a few shots before it was empty, and his main weapons were Shocky and a Stun Glove. Kaleb chuckled to himself as the demon formerly known as Rick slammed into the Barrier again.

The barrier shimmered as Kaleb grinned up at the large demon shouting. “BRING IT ON!!”