Chapter 2: Death Woods

As Sehn, God-king to all in existence and first in line for every throne, trekked his way through the dark, unforgiving forest, he wondered how things had gotten so out of hand.

“Death Woods,” Sehn muttered. “Why in the fucking fuck would someone go to a place called the ‘Death Woods’?”

He had no time for such nonsense. He was too busy being invincible, omnipotent, omniscient, om…om everything! All mortals stepped aside when he passed, giving way to their master.

So why was he here again?

There was a rustling from a bed of dead leaves to his right. The screech was the only indication he was given as a ferocious black bat the size of a small child dove at him. Without time to mumble a spell or even to reach for his sword and bow, Sehn quickly pivoted on his foot, turning the movement into a spin. While whirling, he unsheathed his dagger and sliced the beast horizontally across the neck. Sehn laughed ruefully as it fell lifelessly to the forest floor.

“Foolish creature. How dare you fly at the Great Sehn?”

The woods south of Elvar had a long and rich history. In ancient times, they were home to a more primitive race of Elven folk. There was a rich and deep backstory as to why they’d become the dangerous forest of death: one filled with twists, turns, and adventure. These were precisely the reasons you couldn’t pay Sehn to give a shit about them.

“Nero!” he called. “Nero!”

Where is that little runt? When I get my hands on him, I’ll wring his neck. People had better not think I’m doing this because I’m a good guy or anything. I fully intend to demand a reward for being out in the Gods-cursed Death Woods.

Another Hell-Screech appeared from the shadowy sides of a giant oak tree. This time, Sehn was prepared. In one fluid motion, he loosed an arrow into its face. The creature died while still in flight and joined its companion, the two corpses soon to become worm food. Sehn didn’t like when things attacked him. It drove him crazy.

In a fit of rage, and at a speed that transcended even the best of archers, Sehn randomly fired a volley of arrows into the surrounding forest, hoping he would get lucky and hit something, even if it meant him no harm.

Sehn was an exceptionally good tracker, though if you asked him he was an exceptionally good everything. The forest grew darker as he made his way through, until he was forced to light an arrow on fire just to see ahead of him.

“Remmos Salas!” Sehn chanted. The arrow burst into flames at the tip, illuminating the surrounding area.

The forest wasn’t only getting darker, but the trees were growing bigger as well. If the boy was to be found, it needed to be soon, or not even the Gods would save him.

“Nero, where in the hell are you?” Sehn shouted.

The dirt turned to mud and grew moist as Sehn walked over it, which indicated a large water source nearby. If the boy had any wits about him—which Sehn doubted or he wouldn’t be in a place called ‘Death Woods’—he would be camped nearby.

“Hey, Sehn,” a voice whispered.

Sehn spun around at the sound of the voice behind him. “Nero, is that you?”

From the shadows of a neighboring tree, a small boy walked forward.

“Nero, you little brat, I should fireball you into the future. What possessed you to come out here? Not…not that I was worried, or anything, because there’ll be a reward for you. But what gives?”

Nero approached. “I was bored,” he said. “I wanted to play. Sehn, will you play with me?”

“Here? No damn way. Let’s go, Nero. I’m in no mood for these games. I had to kill, like, ten things just to get here.”

Sehn grabbed the boy’s arm and then recoiled. He felt a powerful burning sensation shoot through his hand. He leapt backwards, almost tripping over his feet as he stumbled into the thick bark of the nearest tree.

“What the hell?”

Nero began to change. His form twisted, shifting into something out of a nightmare. His small, boyish face imploded then expanded, growing and stretching. A green tint formed, spreading over the boy until a greenish hue covered his entire face. His body began to expand, too. It twisted and contorted until the clothing ripped free of the body, which was now colored the same mossy hue as the face.

Where once were eyes filled with wonder, now there were diamond-shaped scales with dark red lashes. Ooze slipped from the creature’s mouth as it made a hiss that Sehn interpreted as laughter.

“Play with me, Sehn, play with me.”

The creature, now triple Sehn’s height, smashed his fist down on top of the ground. Sehn leaped out of the way, rolling on the forest surface, coming back up in a crouch with his bow in hand. He loosed four arrows but to no avail. Each bounced harmlessly off the creature, and it snarled at him yet again.

With a muttered curse, Sehn tossed it to the side and drew his Elven steel. “This is some bullshit!” he growled, charging at the creature.

Sehn swung the blade with all his might, but the creature raised its arm and blocked the weapon with its own hand. It roared in pain as a chunk of green flesh fell to the floor. It turned to him, eyes filled with rage. Before Sehn could move, its other hand whipped around, crushing into him and sending Sehn a dozen paces back. He hit the ground with a rolling grunt, which knocked the wind out of him.

Sehn tried to get back to his feet, but the creature closed in for another attack. With all his strength, Sehn forced himself out of the way and into another roll. As he rose to his feet, Sehn felt a dark anger. Not at the creature but at himself. No matter how arrogant the man, there is always an inevitable realization of denial.

The city people feared Sehn. They feared his magic, because to them he was a God. But his magic was complete shit. He’d always known it, but by surrounding himself with hard-working citizens, it was easy to deny. His father had tried to teach him—practically begged him to learn, but Sehn didn’t bother to try, and why would he? Sehn wanted money and servants, not mystical knowledge.

With a thunderous roar, he howled at the creature.

“Remmos Salas!”

The ball of flame hurtled through the air, striking the thing dead center in its face. It cried in pain as Sehn followed up with another, and yet another. Each ball of flame struck the enemy, but Sehn was growing weaker, and the creature showed no signs of slowing down. He knew that he would have to use a different spell, and it was from this that the second crippling realization dawned on him. He only knew two spells.

Sehn had never bothered to learn anything but Fireball and Earthquake. And he didn’t even want to learn Earthquake. In fact, the only pride his father had ever felt for him was when Sehn busted down the door to his father’s living area and demanded to learn the spells of flame.

Because fireballs are awesome! Sehn reminded himself. So, why would he bother to learn anything else? His question was answered as the creature closed on him yet again. Green ooze poured like a river out of its open wounds.

Sehn was exhausted, and even if he had the strength to cast another spell, he’d not be able to catch his breath to utter it. The creature swung at him with a massive green arm that would spell out Sehn’s death upon collision. He flung himself to the ground, dodging by inches as grass and mud splattered over him. That he had hurt the creature was without question, but it wasn’t enough. This sucked, so, so much.

“Sehn!” cried a voice.

Nero appeared from behind a tree to Sehn’s right. He was covered in mud from ear to toe, and his clothing was torn.

“Nero, get lost!” Sehn shouted at him. “If I die, this is your fault, and I won’t be able to haunt you with my spirit if you die with me too.”

“I’m so sorry, Sehn. I never should have come out here. I won’t leave you!”

Sehn growled. Why did the little Elven brat have to be stubborn?

The creature made its way closer to them, now only a few paces away. It was slowing down from its injuries, but it still had enough force to destroy them both.

“Sehn. If I leave you, and…and you die, will it really be my fault?” Nero was crying now, tears streaking down his small, puffy face.

“One hundred percent! I want you to cry every time you see my paintings.”

“I won’t live with that!” Nero charged at the giant monster, the small little thing he was. Death wasn’t even a matter of if, but when, and the when seemed to be only moments away. Sehn caught his breath—he wasn’t about to let the brat die. He kicked off the back of a tree, and sprinted after him.

The creature met the boy’s assault head-on and brought its arm around to smash Nero’s face.

“Ralos MAHR!” Sehn thundered, causing the ground below Nero to crack, tripping him and causing the monster to miss by a hair’s breadth.

With the last bit of strength he still commanded, Sehn launched one final flurry of fireballs.

“Remmos Salas!”

“Remmos Salas!”

“Remmos Salas!”

One by one, he sent them at the monster. Each crashed into the creature’s green face with an audible smack, causing chunks of slimy green skin to splatter around the forest. Sehn’s exhaustion nearly caused him to collapse. When he had nothing left to give, he simply crumpled to the floor.

The monster was grievously wounded, but it wasn’t enough. The creature charged at him with half its face missing, intent on ending the battle. Sehn had time for one final thought.

Aww man, I’m gonna die like such a little bitch.

He closed his eyes and waited for the end.

Am I dead?

After a moment of complete silence, he slowly opened his left eye, then his right. The monster was lying face down, its massive green face sunken into the mud. So close, that the tip of its eyelash made contact with Sehn’s boot. Slowly, carefully, Sehn rose to his feet.

So the creature had died from its wounds, and this was its final charge?

Sehn’s clothing was torn. His body was filthy, physically and emotionally spent. His stamina depleted in its entirety. He had at least one broken rib, a nasty gash on his right shoulder, and multiple fractures in different locations. He was breathing deeply.

With a tremendous shout, he laughed uproariously.

“Hahahahahaha.”

He looked to Nero.

“Hah! It didn’t even stand a chance. I fucked that thing up. It didn’t even challenge me. Who’s the man? Who’s the fucking man? Sehn is. Look at it,” he said, kicking its rough-as-steel dead corpse and hoping the pain didn’t show on his face.

“Little green bitch. You weren’t even a challenge, you hear me? At no point in time was I even remotely scared of you. You know what? I’m cutting off its head and taking it as a trophy. The hell are you crying about, Nero?”

Sehn was too exhausted and run-down to stop the boy. Nero tackled him to the ground in a hug.

“I thought you were gonna die,” he wailed. “I thought I’d lose you.”

Sehn growled.

If anyone ever sees this, I’ll kill them.