Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [98]
Then the moment was gone and Pierce had to check himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He stepped back from the two supernatural beings, Sidekick raised and ready. He hoped this battle wouldn't last long.
The saber fell from between limp fingers and Pierce's jaw dropped. The future was so clear. No longer was there the multitude of possibilities and choices to be made. There was nothing he could do, for it would happen so quickly. Perhaps it was the insight into Chev's mind, Pierce couldn't be certain. Never before had he seen the future with such simpleness.
Chev tossed Gravebringer into the air in front of Korehren's head. Sharkslayer's sharp blade came down, slicing clear through the black adamantite sword. For a millionth of a second, Pierce heard the magical sword scream in his mind and then was gone as it exploded.
Both beings were knocked back from the released magical energy. Chev crouched, his buckler raised defensively before him as he concentrated on absorbing the magical energy that had been released around him. Then he stood, striding through the magical chaos of energy and levelled Sharkslayer at the prone Korehren's neck.
The god was still in a state of shock when he looked up the curved blade of the cutlass to the man at the other end. His face, normally a combination of darkness and light turned pale. Chev stared back without expression.
There was a feeling of nothingness in the air. Everything had simply went still. What was it, Chev wondered. He only had to plunge the blade forward and vengeance would be his.
The place was unnaturally silent despite the sudden appearance of a multitude of godly figures. They encircled the area and watched with interest to see if they would be witnessing the birth of the new god of corruption.
From their ranks, a blue-white entity stepped forward, her figure becoming distinct and inticing as she approached. "What are you waiting for?" Mystra asked.
Chev looked up, an urge telling him that he would find his answer in the heavens above.
"Enough!" boomed a chorus of voices that bellowed down from the heavens with a million stern shouts. "If you value your existence you will cease this!"
The eyes of every mortal and immortal in Waterdeep followed Chev's lead and turned skyward to the towering being that was Lord Ao. To Chev's eyes, the being was pure energy and nothing more. He was one gigantic weave of energy as if his very existence would cease to be in the event that all the magic simply disappeared. He was also perfectly balanced. Every part of him had equal amounts of colour and shade and yet he did not appear to be grey or brown as a whole, but rather was simply everything.
"The Balance will be preserved and such a concentration of power will only result in a backlash of energy. Disperse!"
One by one, the gods vanished in the next second until all but Korehren and Chev remained. The gods watched from afar of course, for none wanted to miss such a rare event.
"Leave!" Ao commanded, his white eyes were twin suns bearing down on Korehren. The god blinked out and was gone, his form travelling across the weave of magic in bubbles within the strands.
Chev held his ground and stared upwards at the Overlord. "And what of me?"
"The role of the God of Duels is awaiting you. If you seek aid in understanding your role, you may call upon Oghma, God of Knowledge to aid you."
Marque Draque took a quick step forward, and took a quicker one backwards when he realized what he was doing. "Doesn't he have to replace another god to become a god?"
"No. There are two ways to achieve godhood. The first is to slay and replace one and the second is to earn it by achieving perfection in a particular art."
Draque realized he was staring at nothing and looked to his side at Pierce. The veteran shrugged and looked at Chev, the only deity left.
Chev was cloaked and armoured like he was when Pierce had first met him in the Academy dome. The only thing different was that his face was now flawlessly perfect and his eyes shone with a brilliant light. He smiled,