MLII C1, P8- "Nowhere Left To Run"

"Nowhere Left To Run" is the eighth Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's first Chapter. It was released on 06.10.2020

## Plot

Our three heroes- Jared, Aleks and John have finally found Lysstak the Beast and his bandits in the ruined city of Ahonaria and give chase.

Unfortunately, things won't be as easy as they seen to be. Even though Lysstak is stuck in the ruins, he will not back down and send as many of his bandits to battle the heroes as he can.

However, even the most powerful and tricky warriors are not invulnerable. And Jared is ready to prove this by giving it all that he's got to hunt down this dangerous enemy and get the world rid of him once and for all.

## Story

As the bandits approach the three heroes, Lysstak decides that he doesn't want to risk his life today and tries to climb the stairs that lead to the upper section of the tower.

Jared sees him the moment when he gets out of his hiding spot. And so does his father.

"He's getting away!"- Aleks says.

John shrugs.

"I know that we should give chase, but those vagabonds are not going to let us... "- He says and points at the incoming bandits.

Aleks smiles, draws his sword and attacks the bandits. John sees that Jared's father actually has a plan and decides to help him out.

All of the bandits are distracted by the two of them, so much that they do not notice that Jared is running towards Lysstak all by himself.

"*Good luck, son.*"- Aleks says to himself while watching him chase the bandit leader- "*Everyone's counting on you. Don't let us down.*"

While Jared's companions distract the main force of bandits and other... creatures, the young hero manages to push Lysstak away and try to kill him.

Unfortunately, the bandit is not ready to die yet. Instead of fighting our hero in a fair way, he whistles and a few more bandits appear to attack him.

As Jared struggles against them, Lysstak laughs.

"Nice try, hero. But those tricks ain't working on me!"- He says and quickly climbs the stairs to the second floor.

However, seconds after Lysstak disappears out of sight, three of the inanimate giant rocks in the room become animated and form into giant, deadly sentinels.

It seems like some of the residual magic, left behind by the people who occupied this place after the Anama abandoned Ahonaria still remains. And, from the looks of it, the people who lived here were Avernites.

And they do not tolerate the fact that a good warrior is getting attacked by a bunch of vagabonds, even if they aren't here to help anymore.

Once they heard the commotion: the footsteps, the screams of the bandits and the clanging of blades, the sentinels started to reanimate. It was at this very moment that they finally sensed that a good person is in grave danger and fully reanimated to help them out.

The three sentinels rush to Jared's aid with tremendous speed and crush the attacking bandits without any resistance from them.

Jared stands up and begins to thank the ones who helped him. However, he soon realizes that they are not human.

"*Sentinels? Here, in a place where magic is **restricted?***"- Jared thinks to himself- "Somehow, I highly doubt that those automatons were created by the Anama. Maybe a group of Avernite warriors came here and built those defenses, in case any enemies tried to invade the upper floors of the tower."

He thinks about it for a while more.

"*But why didn't they attack the bandits when they first entered the tower? This does not make any sense at all...* "

He soon realizes that the sentinels are only here, because he was in danger. Because the bandits were going to kill him. He smiles.

"*So, the mages placed them here to protect people like me, people who are in grave danger?*"- He says- "*What a bunch of kindhearted people. If only I could thank them right now.*"

He shakes his head.

"*But there is no more time to waste! I must chase Lysstak the Beast towards the upper floors of the tower, so I can finally take him down. The world will never be safe if such enemies are left to roam the free roads freely.*"

Jared looks at the sentinels again. He soon realizes that the golems are awaiting a command.

"Oh, right."- He mutters- "*T*he sentinels need to be issued a proper command in order to work properly. And there is no one else who can command them here, so... "

Jared raises his hand and points it at the stairway that leads to the next floor.

"Sentinels, there is a very dangerous enemy up there and it is our job to take them out for the good of Avernum. So, are you with me?"

Upon hearing the word "Avernum", the sentinels immediately step forward and nod. They seem to be ready to take Lysstak down.

As they move closer to Jared, our hero cannot help but notice that they are already starting to crumble.

"*Their time in this world is short."- He notes- "And they only way they can spend all of it productively is by killing those bandits and helping me defeat Lysstak.*"

He shakes his head.

"*I hate to force those poor creatures to fight for me, but I need all the help that I can get. I hope that they can forgive me in the afterlife.*"

Jared and his new, temporary automated allies climb the stairs to the next floor and catck Lysstak and his bandits by surprise.

Lysstak is shocked that Jared is still here.

"You're still alive!"- He yells- "But... but how?! The bandits that I sent were some of my best warriors! They were supposed to kill you, not to be killed!"

Jared smiles. The three sentinels stand close to him, watching Lysstak and his bandits warily through their eye sockets.

"I *hate* to spoil the surprise, but your pathetic forces were not strong enough against the greatest treasure of Avernum- Its defenders!"

He points his sword towards the bandit leader.

"Face it, Lysstak."- He continues- "This is the end of the road. And you have got nowhere else to go!"

Lysstak shakes his head.

"That's not true! I *will* escape from you! Just watch!"

He whistles to his bandits and they attack Jared.

However, the sentinels make short work of them, leaving Lysstak to fight alone.

With all of his allies dead and no one else coming to help him, Lysstak is understandably terrified. He tries to run up the stairs, but one of the sentinels surprises him by shooting them in the leg with a fiery laser that comes from its eye sockets.

The rest of the sentinels try to shoot him down, but Jared stops them.

"It is okay. I promise to finish him off myself. Do not waste more energy trying to kill him."- He promises to them- "Just protect me from his friends and promise that he will be gone soon."

As the bandit leader slowly stumbles upstairs, with Jared and his allies calmly walking behind him.

When they reach the top of the tower, Jared points his blade at Lysstak who stands up to face him, despite his severely injured leg.

"Your time is up, Lysstak the Beast."- Jared says- "The good people of Avernum and the Surface, as well as the souls of all the people that you and your bandit friends killed scream that you should die here and now."

He takes a few steps forward.

"And I am not going to let you flee, not after all the pain that you and your dear allies have caused to by friends."

Lysstak the Beast shrugs.

"And just for that, you want to kill me right here?"- He says- "Come on, those were just a few souls, contributing to the creation of a new world, a place where the old Empire will be restored and the world will be within our grasp."

Those words really infuriate Jared.

"***Just a few souls?!***"- He screams- "The people that your petty brigands killed were not just regular souls! Teachers! Classmates! Even a few of my childhood friends are among the victims! You killed them all and I will *never* forgive you for this!"

Lysstak the Beast smiles.

"Then come at me. But remember that you can only face me in a fair match."

Jared raises his eyebrow.

"And why do you think that I will not fight alongside my allies?"- He says.

Lysstak the Beast shrugs.

"Because it would be simply unfair to kill me with the help of your massive sentinel friends, wouldn't it?"- He responds- "Four of you versus one of me. That's not something that you will be proud about in the future, that's for sure."

Jared clenches his fist. He is close to punching Lysstak for this insolence.

However, he soon realizes that he won't achieve anything if he defeats all of his foes with the help of his allies. Sometimes, he must face a powerful foe all by himself and prove that he is truly the brave hero, for whom everyone says good things and praises him for his bravery.

He motions for the sentinels to step back and not let anyone else interrupt their battle. The creatures agree almost immediately and do as they are told.

Jared looks at Lysstak who has bandaged his leg and is ready to fight.

"Alright, Lysstak. If you want a fair fight between you and me, a fair fight it will be!"- He says- "I hope that you are ready to face the wrath of a hero, because I am coming to get you!"

Lysstak grins and motions for Jared to step forward.

"Then come closer and see how powerful I have become!"

"However."- He adds- "This time, your father won't be the one who fights me. You shall be the one to suffer by fighting me- the master of illusion!"

Before Jared can respond, Lysstak's form begins to waver and split.

Soon, where there was only one Lysstak the Beast, there are now four of them.

Jared watches in horror as the four of them laugh simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Aleks and John go upstairs to help Jared. However, they are quickly stopped by the sentinels who have been issued a specific command.

Unlike Jared, John immediately understands it.

"He wants to fight Lysstak the Beast all by himself."- He says to Jared's father- "And he does not one anyone else to help him. He wants to be a lone wolf for once."

Aleks nods and watches as all four copies of Lysstak the Beast begin to speak to his son.