Realm of Souls
Jacob Rawn was just an ordinary ‘Tommy' at the start of WWI, that was until evil dark forces came to join the battle. Fighting for his life, and those of his friends, he discovered within himself powers that were way beyond ordinary human capabilities.He is taken to a place out of the earth realm to recover, and hone his skills to enable him to save the world. As expected his journey was not an easy one, but with the help of an alien race Jacob learns how to use his powers wisely. With wise mentors like Master Takami, and good friends like Steels, he is able to keep watch over the earth realm, keeping it safe until one fateful day...
Content
Shane Gostick is a life-long author, however, this will be his
first published work. With over 25 years martial arts experience,
he currently runs his own dojo in the community where he lives.
He owes much of his writing success to his terminally ill mother
for whom he is full time carer and who encouraged him to
finally complete and publish this story. He is a firm believer in
humanity and what we can be capable of when we harness our
intellectual and spiritual powers to the full.
REALM OF SOULS
To my mother who is my inspiration for starting and
finishing this book, and a true testament to the strength of a
human being, and its impact to the world around it.
Shane Gostick
REALM OF SOULS
Copyright © Shane Gostick
The right of Shane Gostick to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this
publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims
for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British
Library.
ISBN 978 1 84963 556 1
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2015)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LB
Printed and bound in Great Britain
Acknowledgments
A special thank you goes out to friends and family who have
helped and encouraged me to finish this book, and continue with
the others shortly to follow.
Thank you to Neil Sawdon for designing the front cover.
And finally thank you for everyone who buys this book.
Preface
My name is Jacob Rawn, I was born in England in 1893, for
over a hundred years I have been a soldier, a wanderer, and a
survivor.
I have fought in a war that has raged since before recorded
time, a war which would not be shown in newspapers or on
television, and yet has claimed many lives.
This war is not fought over borders or capital, but of the
earth’s greatest resource… the human soul.
Creatures from myth and legend travel through the
dimensional rifts to our realm, our world, they feed and harvest
the human soul for food and power.
Some brave men and woman are taken by a friend of
humanity, the ancient race of Drakeions and trained to be
sentinels, these mystical warriors are trained in the dragon arts
to use their souls as a power source for amazing abilities.
Once trained they are returned to the earth realm to combat
the invading forces of the unnatural creatures feeding upon it, in
secret we fight… and die.
Many friends have I lost in my time on earth, no one knows
of their sacrifice, no one knows of their struggle to keep
humanity free and alive… until now.
My order, the sentinels were tasked by the Drakeions to
fight the evil spreading to our world, we failed…
I am the last sentinel on earth, I wander this world searching
for my enemy, my sword ever ready to combat the unnatural
creatures that threaten us, but I cannot last alone.
I watch this world almost destroy itself with its wars, its
pollution, its greed, as I wander the globe I cannot help but
wonder if my friends’ sacrifice, if my sacrifice is worth it.
Humanity must learn to survive against the coming
onslaught, it’s only a matter of time now.
As for your enemy… let me tell you my story.
Chapter One
The Story Begins
November 17th 2012, a dark and stormy night fell on the
magnificent city of London, England.
The heavens open to reveal dark drops of cold heavy rain
pouring into the city streets soaking all beneath.
Thunder and lightning struck through the skies with a
deafening rumble to follow the bright strobes.
The people of the city run around the streets trying to stay
out of the rain, but the weather was the last thing on one man’s
mind this dark night.
Deep in the fields of Hyde Park stands a man, his name is
Jacob Rawn.
This man, known to very few in the world is a soldier, a
soldier like none other on earth, fighting a war that has raged for
thousands of years.
For over seventy years he has fought Wars and battles which
have never been seen by outsiders, in newspapers or on TV, with
thousands of deaths on battlefields not of this world, and yet
Jacob survives.
Survives and continues to fight this same war he has fought
for many years and will do so till the day his spirit is freed from
this place.
Standing alone in the park his attention is focused to the
open field around him.
His short blond hair now dark and soaked drips down his
stern young face and into his blue eyes, yet he does not blink but
remains focused on the open field.
His long grey trench coat fails to keep out the weather as the
open front allows the rain to soak his white t-shirt and blue
jeans.
The weather refuses to alter as he stands seemingly unaware
of its effects.
His size and build well hid under his drenched coat are now
betrayed by the see through wet t-shirt, revealing a well-toned
and muscular physique.
In a sudden and sharp swift motion he spins around as his
attention is caught by a faint sound behind him.
Turning round he readies himself as his eyes lock with that
of his target.
A small black cat pushes through a small bush trying to
keep dry from the wet weather.
A sigh comes from him as he relaxes once more closing his
eyes for a brief moment clearing his vision.
Opening his eyes and looking again to the open field his
attention is grasped by a hooded lone figure.
Another sigh and a sharp flick of the head clears the rain
from Jacob’s eyes and dripping hair, he walks towards the lone
figure.
Anger festers within him as he looks intensely at the man as
he approaches.
Both men walk towards the centre of the field until they
meet, both stopping within an arm’s reach of each other.
The hooded man slowly raises his arm and pulls back the
hood hiding his face, to reveal a long blood-red haired man
staring with a look of pure hatred towards Jacob.
“Well, well, the great man himself, the legendary Jacob
Rawn.”
Jacob looks up towards the man’s face stirring deep into his
eyes and returning the look of pure hatred for him, as he listens
to the man’s husky deep voice.
Towering over Jacob by a clear 2 feet, Jacob seems not to be
intimidated by his size or the anger directed within him.
“Been a long time Varamont.”
“Indeed it has.”
Never removing their glare from each other both men seem
unaware by the heavy rain and thunder.
“I missed you in L.A. by a day.”
The man’s face let slip a smirk grin at Jacobs’s remark.
“So you have been hunting me.”
“Are you that eager to die, are you that eager to feed me
your soul...Human.”
Jacobs gaze follows the man as he slowly walks around
Jacob as if measuring him up.
“Die” Jacob replies.
“I have died a few times, once by one of your minions,
once, I was nearly killed by your master.” Jacob adds.
Jacob’s fist clenches firm as he remembers those dark days.
The tall man’s face let slip a smile at the news.
“Ha, petty humans are no match for the power of my kind.”
“And we have no chance of besting one of you in battle,
blah, blah, blah, I have heard all this a thousand times over, and
yet, many of your kind have fallen to me.”
Varamont’s smile vanishes and is replaced by the look of
anger and hatred.
“That may be true...”
Jacob now returns the smile with a gesture of confidence.
“You know it’s true, if the human spirit is trained and
nurtured properly, as I was, then your kind is in deep shit!”
Jacobs’s words cut deeply into the man as if remembering some
wrong Jacob had done to him.
“Humanities numbers greatly over power even your hordes,
and in time they will be strong enough to fight for themselves.”
Jacob states.
Both men stare at each other, pure hatred runs through them.
“We shall see, human, for when you fall tonight, no one will
stop me summoning my lord, and laying waste to this stink
infested back water realm, and claiming the souls of every living
thing in it!.”
Jacob stands motionless as the man almost screams his last
words, his hands lay still in his trench coat pockets as he
watches the tall man in front of him.
Reaching into the folds of his cloak wrapped around him, a
long black covered blade emerges as if from nowhere.
The sword itself stands nearly three and a half feet in length
and is over three inches in width, the heavy two handed sword is
filled with blood red rubies on the hilt and a black crystal at the
pummel.
With one hand he pulls it from his cloak as if he was
wielding a twig and brings it crashing down towards Jacob.
With his other hand he rips the cloak from his body
revealing a blood red silk martial arts GI suit, strange ancient
golden silk symbols decorate the entire outfit.
Screaming with anger that burns within him he strikes at
Jacob.
“NOW DIE!!”
A quick jump back send Jacob out of the danger zone of the
mighty sword as it crashes into the muddy water and soil of the
ground.
Regaining his footing he looks to his opponent, Jacob
reaches into this long dripping wet coat and pulls a fine silver
blade from within.
Jacob’s sword resembles that of the katana used by the
mighty samurai in times past.
Both the blade and the hilt are made from some silvery blue
metal that gleams in the lights of the city.
The hilt has an engraving of a dragon wrapping itself around
a human stood upright and arms stretched out above its head,
two blue gems as eyes for the dragon, and in the hands of the
human at the very pummel a large misty white crystal.
Holding out his sword pointing to the ground Jacob walks
around his combatant never taking his eyes off him, finally he
settles into a ready position with his sword raised high at the
side of his head.
Both men return the hatred gaze to each other, as Jacob
remains still, his opponent with a smirk on his face and a
confidant walk slowly paces in front of him.
“You really think you can beat me?”
With anger in his eyes and voice, the man continues, beating
on his chest like an ape declaring his dominance.
“ME! A horned blood lord from the hell realm itself, do you
really think you have what it takes to kill me HUMAN!”
Once again the tall man swings with ease the massive two
handed in sword,
Hurling the blackened blade towards Jacob thrusting
towards his stomach, Jacob wastes no time and quickly parries
with precision and skill.
Blow after blow, parry after parry the two men lock in
combat.
Jacob never losing his cool manages to contain his anger
and focuses on his opponent, while his attacker relentlessly
attacks.
His confidence builds as he notices Jacob not returning his
attacks and is completely on the defensive.
Letting the confidence get the better of him he steadily lets
his great strength wane slightly thinking he has this battle won.
Jacob takes advantage of this, waiting for his time to strike.
Jacob’s time has comes, his attacker comes in for a low
stomach thrust with his mighty blade, Jacob pats down with his
blade and at the same time steps in with his left hand aiming for
his opponents chest.
Jacob summons from within him a spark of his power,
focusing on the centre of his open palm his hand glows a bright
blue, slightly shifting his hand out of view leaving only a faint
outline surround in this hazy blue light.
At the same time as his pat down with his blade the left
open palm thrusts into the open chest of his attacker striking
true.
Jacob’s palm closes on its target but before actual contact
occurs the light from his hand hits its target hurling the man
away from Jacob.
Lifting his opponent off his feet his body hurls through the
air some five feet slamming hard to the muddy wet ground
sliding along the grass.
Looking to his enemy with surprise and pain, Varamont
holds his chest and notices part of his fine silk suit now singed
ruined, leaving a blacken exposed chest the size of a basketball.
Rising to his feet Varamont’s anger swirls within, his grip
tightens on the hilt of sword holding his chest with his free hand
he looks intensely at his enemy.
“Improvement I see.”
Varamont’s voice echo’s with rage.
“Am just full of surprises.” Jacob replied.
Both men ready themselves for another burst, the wind and
rain continue to fall,
The thunder and lightning rage on relentless.
Finally the peace is broken, both men move in for the attack,
blade clashes on blade,
Strikes aimed high and low, parries save their owners flesh
from devastating blows aimed to dismember or kill.
Jacob’s eyes focus on his enemy trying to find a weakness
as his fatigue builds within, yet shows no sign on the outside for
his opponent to see.
Varamont struggles to match Jacob’s sword skills,
compensating with brute strength, over powering Jacob’s blows
in order to shake him and knock him back slightly, saving him
time for another strike.
Jacob presses his attacks speeding his body beyond that of
normal human beings, his arms and foot work become that of a
fine dance.
His magnificent blade reaching out again and again
relentlessly for its target, only to be blocked by a now worried
looking enemy.
Jacob’s arms become a steady blur, like an item out of focus
on a photo.
Striking towards his opponent Jacob finally connects.
The silver blade disappears deep into the stomach of the tall
man, then reappears as Jacob continues his attack, spinning on
the spot Following through with another strike to his opponent’s
left upper thigh as the blade angles upward.
The attack continues followed by a down angle strike to
Varamont’s left collar, down to his right hip as Jacob enters a
spin again as he disengages from the final attack and steps back.
A flood of fresh crimson splashes from the now open
wounds, the man lets out no screams but mere grunts as if he
barely felt them.
Holding back his anger and the small amount of pain he
now feels he looks back to his stomach wound.
Pressing his hand to the wound and lifting to see the fresh
blood flowing from him. His eyes turn to Jacob.
The tall red haired man spins his mighty sword in his hand
pointing the tip down to the ground he slams the blade deep into
the ground letting the blade alone as he stands up.
Reaching to his now ruined fine silk GI he rips the cloth
from his body never taking his eyes from his enemy.
The man’s strong muscular build is clearly well formed and
the slight flow of crimson upon him does little to hide his size.
Suddenly Jacobs eyes change from a focused steady look to
a now curious slightly worried look.
The tall man’s body now seems to grow in size, his eyes
never leaving Jacob but teeth gritted and a slow grunt comes
from him.
His skin colour changes to a deeper shade of red like the
colour of blood itself.
Watching in amazement Jacob lowers his guard and
watches.
The now demonic looking humanoid in front of him seems
totally alien to the man that was stood before him.
Two large black horns curl out of his brow running round
the top of his eyes round towards his ears then up sharply
towards the sky.
The black and sharp looking teeth are hard to spot in the
blackness that is his mouth.
The giant sized man stands a huge 12 to 13 feet tall, with
muscles to match his size.
The creature’s hand size could easily grasp Jacob’s upper
torso in one hand.
The large black sharp claws look like it could split timbers
with a single stroke.
“Now, I’m pissed.”
The large bellowing voice comes from the towering beast
looking towards Jacob with anger and anticipation.
Reading himself once more for the fight ahead Jacob refuses
to let the size of his enemy affect him.
Reaching for his sword again the now huge beast swings for
Jacob again and again.
Parrying barely under the now even greater strength of his
adversary, Jacob struggles to keep his footing, each blow
staggering Jacob and his defence.
The rage now felt by the beast allows him to open a gap in
Jacobs’s defence, with his mighty sword he swings up with a
back fist strike that could lift a truck from the ground.
Jacobs’s nimble blade clashes with the beast’s blade, trying
to stop the blow but the beast’s strength is too great knocking
Jacob back a few steps.
His sword knocked aside the beast lets fly his huge fist
striking Jacob’s head and upper torso at once.
The blow sends Jacob through the air flying backwards, his
fine sword knocked from his hand.
The tree some ten feet from his old position splits in two as
Jacob’s shoulder blades slam hard into them.
Falling under the strain it took, the tree topples over
crashing to the ground.
Jacob barely hears the sound of timber splitting, or the
sound of the tree crashing into the now rain soaked ground.
The tree taking the impact stopped Jacob’s flight abruptly,
sending him straight down face first with a heavy thud.
His body now throbbing with pain through his upper body
and head remains still face down in the waterlogged grass as he
struggles to get his breath.
Walking towards his fallen prey, the beast’s smile lets slip
the dark liquid from his mouth like a slavering predator about to
feast.
“Your feeble human body is incapable of the power you
need to defeat me.”
Suddenly coming to his senses, as if a sudden electric jolt
had run through him, Jacob hears nothing of his attacker’s
words, only feel the heavy thuds as his massive feet close in on
him.
Staying where he lays making no attempt to move, Jacob
looks fanatically for his blade never lifting his head continuing
the rouse that he is badly wounded.
Locating the fine blade down in the grass some twenty or so
feet from him, another plan comes to mind and the beast’s
first published work. With over 25 years martial arts experience,
he currently runs his own dojo in the community where he lives.
He owes much of his writing success to his terminally ill mother
for whom he is full time carer and who encouraged him to
finally complete and publish this story. He is a firm believer in
humanity and what we can be capable of when we harness our
intellectual and spiritual powers to the full.
REALM OF SOULS
To my mother who is my inspiration for starting and
finishing this book, and a true testament to the strength of a
human being, and its impact to the world around it.
Shane Gostick
REALM OF SOULS
Copyright © Shane Gostick
The right of Shane Gostick to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this
publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims
for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British
Library.
ISBN 978 1 84963 556 1
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2015)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LB
Printed and bound in Great Britain
Acknowledgments
A special thank you goes out to friends and family who have
helped and encouraged me to finish this book, and continue with
the others shortly to follow.
Thank you to Neil Sawdon for designing the front cover.
And finally thank you for everyone who buys this book.
Preface
My name is Jacob Rawn, I was born in England in 1893, for
over a hundred years I have been a soldier, a wanderer, and a
survivor.
I have fought in a war that has raged since before recorded
time, a war which would not be shown in newspapers or on
television, and yet has claimed many lives.
This war is not fought over borders or capital, but of the
earth’s greatest resource… the human soul.
Creatures from myth and legend travel through the
dimensional rifts to our realm, our world, they feed and harvest
the human soul for food and power.
Some brave men and woman are taken by a friend of
humanity, the ancient race of Drakeions and trained to be
sentinels, these mystical warriors are trained in the dragon arts
to use their souls as a power source for amazing abilities.
Once trained they are returned to the earth realm to combat
the invading forces of the unnatural creatures feeding upon it, in
secret we fight… and die.
Many friends have I lost in my time on earth, no one knows
of their sacrifice, no one knows of their struggle to keep
humanity free and alive… until now.
My order, the sentinels were tasked by the Drakeions to
fight the evil spreading to our world, we failed…
I am the last sentinel on earth, I wander this world searching
for my enemy, my sword ever ready to combat the unnatural
creatures that threaten us, but I cannot last alone.
I watch this world almost destroy itself with its wars, its
pollution, its greed, as I wander the globe I cannot help but
wonder if my friends’ sacrifice, if my sacrifice is worth it.
Humanity must learn to survive against the coming
onslaught, it’s only a matter of time now.
As for your enemy… let me tell you my story.
Chapter One
The Story Begins
November 17th 2012, a dark and stormy night fell on the
magnificent city of London, England.
The heavens open to reveal dark drops of cold heavy rain
pouring into the city streets soaking all beneath.
Thunder and lightning struck through the skies with a
deafening rumble to follow the bright strobes.
The people of the city run around the streets trying to stay
out of the rain, but the weather was the last thing on one man’s
mind this dark night.
Deep in the fields of Hyde Park stands a man, his name is
Jacob Rawn.
This man, known to very few in the world is a soldier, a
soldier like none other on earth, fighting a war that has raged for
thousands of years.
For over seventy years he has fought Wars and battles which
have never been seen by outsiders, in newspapers or on TV, with
thousands of deaths on battlefields not of this world, and yet
Jacob survives.
Survives and continues to fight this same war he has fought
for many years and will do so till the day his spirit is freed from
this place.
Standing alone in the park his attention is focused to the
open field around him.
His short blond hair now dark and soaked drips down his
stern young face and into his blue eyes, yet he does not blink but
remains focused on the open field.
His long grey trench coat fails to keep out the weather as the
open front allows the rain to soak his white t-shirt and blue
jeans.
The weather refuses to alter as he stands seemingly unaware
of its effects.
His size and build well hid under his drenched coat are now
betrayed by the see through wet t-shirt, revealing a well-toned
and muscular physique.
In a sudden and sharp swift motion he spins around as his
attention is caught by a faint sound behind him.
Turning round he readies himself as his eyes lock with that
of his target.
A small black cat pushes through a small bush trying to
keep dry from the wet weather.
A sigh comes from him as he relaxes once more closing his
eyes for a brief moment clearing his vision.
Opening his eyes and looking again to the open field his
attention is grasped by a hooded lone figure.
Another sigh and a sharp flick of the head clears the rain
from Jacob’s eyes and dripping hair, he walks towards the lone
figure.
Anger festers within him as he looks intensely at the man as
he approaches.
Both men walk towards the centre of the field until they
meet, both stopping within an arm’s reach of each other.
The hooded man slowly raises his arm and pulls back the
hood hiding his face, to reveal a long blood-red haired man
staring with a look of pure hatred towards Jacob.
“Well, well, the great man himself, the legendary Jacob
Rawn.”
Jacob looks up towards the man’s face stirring deep into his
eyes and returning the look of pure hatred for him, as he listens
to the man’s husky deep voice.
Towering over Jacob by a clear 2 feet, Jacob seems not to be
intimidated by his size or the anger directed within him.
“Been a long time Varamont.”
“Indeed it has.”
Never removing their glare from each other both men seem
unaware by the heavy rain and thunder.
“I missed you in L.A. by a day.”
The man’s face let slip a smirk grin at Jacobs’s remark.
“So you have been hunting me.”
“Are you that eager to die, are you that eager to feed me
your soul...Human.”
Jacobs gaze follows the man as he slowly walks around
Jacob as if measuring him up.
“Die” Jacob replies.
“I have died a few times, once by one of your minions,
once, I was nearly killed by your master.” Jacob adds.
Jacob’s fist clenches firm as he remembers those dark days.
The tall man’s face let slip a smile at the news.
“Ha, petty humans are no match for the power of my kind.”
“And we have no chance of besting one of you in battle,
blah, blah, blah, I have heard all this a thousand times over, and
yet, many of your kind have fallen to me.”
Varamont’s smile vanishes and is replaced by the look of
anger and hatred.
“That may be true...”
Jacob now returns the smile with a gesture of confidence.
“You know it’s true, if the human spirit is trained and
nurtured properly, as I was, then your kind is in deep shit!”
Jacobs’s words cut deeply into the man as if remembering some
wrong Jacob had done to him.
“Humanities numbers greatly over power even your hordes,
and in time they will be strong enough to fight for themselves.”
Jacob states.
Both men stare at each other, pure hatred runs through them.
“We shall see, human, for when you fall tonight, no one will
stop me summoning my lord, and laying waste to this stink
infested back water realm, and claiming the souls of every living
thing in it!.”
Jacob stands motionless as the man almost screams his last
words, his hands lay still in his trench coat pockets as he
watches the tall man in front of him.
Reaching into the folds of his cloak wrapped around him, a
long black covered blade emerges as if from nowhere.
The sword itself stands nearly three and a half feet in length
and is over three inches in width, the heavy two handed sword is
filled with blood red rubies on the hilt and a black crystal at the
pummel.
With one hand he pulls it from his cloak as if he was
wielding a twig and brings it crashing down towards Jacob.
With his other hand he rips the cloak from his body
revealing a blood red silk martial arts GI suit, strange ancient
golden silk symbols decorate the entire outfit.
Screaming with anger that burns within him he strikes at
Jacob.
“NOW DIE!!”
A quick jump back send Jacob out of the danger zone of the
mighty sword as it crashes into the muddy water and soil of the
ground.
Regaining his footing he looks to his opponent, Jacob
reaches into this long dripping wet coat and pulls a fine silver
blade from within.
Jacob’s sword resembles that of the katana used by the
mighty samurai in times past.
Both the blade and the hilt are made from some silvery blue
metal that gleams in the lights of the city.
The hilt has an engraving of a dragon wrapping itself around
a human stood upright and arms stretched out above its head,
two blue gems as eyes for the dragon, and in the hands of the
human at the very pummel a large misty white crystal.
Holding out his sword pointing to the ground Jacob walks
around his combatant never taking his eyes off him, finally he
settles into a ready position with his sword raised high at the
side of his head.
Both men return the hatred gaze to each other, as Jacob
remains still, his opponent with a smirk on his face and a
confidant walk slowly paces in front of him.
“You really think you can beat me?”
With anger in his eyes and voice, the man continues, beating
on his chest like an ape declaring his dominance.
“ME! A horned blood lord from the hell realm itself, do you
really think you have what it takes to kill me HUMAN!”
Once again the tall man swings with ease the massive two
handed in sword,
Hurling the blackened blade towards Jacob thrusting
towards his stomach, Jacob wastes no time and quickly parries
with precision and skill.
Blow after blow, parry after parry the two men lock in
combat.
Jacob never losing his cool manages to contain his anger
and focuses on his opponent, while his attacker relentlessly
attacks.
His confidence builds as he notices Jacob not returning his
attacks and is completely on the defensive.
Letting the confidence get the better of him he steadily lets
his great strength wane slightly thinking he has this battle won.
Jacob takes advantage of this, waiting for his time to strike.
Jacob’s time has comes, his attacker comes in for a low
stomach thrust with his mighty blade, Jacob pats down with his
blade and at the same time steps in with his left hand aiming for
his opponents chest.
Jacob summons from within him a spark of his power,
focusing on the centre of his open palm his hand glows a bright
blue, slightly shifting his hand out of view leaving only a faint
outline surround in this hazy blue light.
At the same time as his pat down with his blade the left
open palm thrusts into the open chest of his attacker striking
true.
Jacob’s palm closes on its target but before actual contact
occurs the light from his hand hits its target hurling the man
away from Jacob.
Lifting his opponent off his feet his body hurls through the
air some five feet slamming hard to the muddy wet ground
sliding along the grass.
Looking to his enemy with surprise and pain, Varamont
holds his chest and notices part of his fine silk suit now singed
ruined, leaving a blacken exposed chest the size of a basketball.
Rising to his feet Varamont’s anger swirls within, his grip
tightens on the hilt of sword holding his chest with his free hand
he looks intensely at his enemy.
“Improvement I see.”
Varamont’s voice echo’s with rage.
“Am just full of surprises.” Jacob replied.
Both men ready themselves for another burst, the wind and
rain continue to fall,
The thunder and lightning rage on relentless.
Finally the peace is broken, both men move in for the attack,
blade clashes on blade,
Strikes aimed high and low, parries save their owners flesh
from devastating blows aimed to dismember or kill.
Jacob’s eyes focus on his enemy trying to find a weakness
as his fatigue builds within, yet shows no sign on the outside for
his opponent to see.
Varamont struggles to match Jacob’s sword skills,
compensating with brute strength, over powering Jacob’s blows
in order to shake him and knock him back slightly, saving him
time for another strike.
Jacob presses his attacks speeding his body beyond that of
normal human beings, his arms and foot work become that of a
fine dance.
His magnificent blade reaching out again and again
relentlessly for its target, only to be blocked by a now worried
looking enemy.
Jacob’s arms become a steady blur, like an item out of focus
on a photo.
Striking towards his opponent Jacob finally connects.
The silver blade disappears deep into the stomach of the tall
man, then reappears as Jacob continues his attack, spinning on
the spot Following through with another strike to his opponent’s
left upper thigh as the blade angles upward.
The attack continues followed by a down angle strike to
Varamont’s left collar, down to his right hip as Jacob enters a
spin again as he disengages from the final attack and steps back.
A flood of fresh crimson splashes from the now open
wounds, the man lets out no screams but mere grunts as if he
barely felt them.
Holding back his anger and the small amount of pain he
now feels he looks back to his stomach wound.
Pressing his hand to the wound and lifting to see the fresh
blood flowing from him. His eyes turn to Jacob.
The tall red haired man spins his mighty sword in his hand
pointing the tip down to the ground he slams the blade deep into
the ground letting the blade alone as he stands up.
Reaching to his now ruined fine silk GI he rips the cloth
from his body never taking his eyes from his enemy.
The man’s strong muscular build is clearly well formed and
the slight flow of crimson upon him does little to hide his size.
Suddenly Jacobs eyes change from a focused steady look to
a now curious slightly worried look.
The tall man’s body now seems to grow in size, his eyes
never leaving Jacob but teeth gritted and a slow grunt comes
from him.
His skin colour changes to a deeper shade of red like the
colour of blood itself.
Watching in amazement Jacob lowers his guard and
watches.
The now demonic looking humanoid in front of him seems
totally alien to the man that was stood before him.
Two large black horns curl out of his brow running round
the top of his eyes round towards his ears then up sharply
towards the sky.
The black and sharp looking teeth are hard to spot in the
blackness that is his mouth.
The giant sized man stands a huge 12 to 13 feet tall, with
muscles to match his size.
The creature’s hand size could easily grasp Jacob’s upper
torso in one hand.
The large black sharp claws look like it could split timbers
with a single stroke.
“Now, I’m pissed.”
The large bellowing voice comes from the towering beast
looking towards Jacob with anger and anticipation.
Reading himself once more for the fight ahead Jacob refuses
to let the size of his enemy affect him.
Reaching for his sword again the now huge beast swings for
Jacob again and again.
Parrying barely under the now even greater strength of his
adversary, Jacob struggles to keep his footing, each blow
staggering Jacob and his defence.
The rage now felt by the beast allows him to open a gap in
Jacobs’s defence, with his mighty sword he swings up with a
back fist strike that could lift a truck from the ground.
Jacobs’s nimble blade clashes with the beast’s blade, trying
to stop the blow but the beast’s strength is too great knocking
Jacob back a few steps.
His sword knocked aside the beast lets fly his huge fist
striking Jacob’s head and upper torso at once.
The blow sends Jacob through the air flying backwards, his
fine sword knocked from his hand.
The tree some ten feet from his old position splits in two as
Jacob’s shoulder blades slam hard into them.
Falling under the strain it took, the tree topples over
crashing to the ground.
Jacob barely hears the sound of timber splitting, or the
sound of the tree crashing into the now rain soaked ground.
The tree taking the impact stopped Jacob’s flight abruptly,
sending him straight down face first with a heavy thud.
His body now throbbing with pain through his upper body
and head remains still face down in the waterlogged grass as he
struggles to get his breath.
Walking towards his fallen prey, the beast’s smile lets slip
the dark liquid from his mouth like a slavering predator about to
feast.
“Your feeble human body is incapable of the power you
need to defeat me.”
Suddenly coming to his senses, as if a sudden electric jolt
had run through him, Jacob hears nothing of his attacker’s
words, only feel the heavy thuds as his massive feet close in on
him.
Staying where he lays making no attempt to move, Jacob
looks fanatically for his blade never lifting his head continuing
the rouse that he is badly wounded.
Locating the fine blade down in the grass some twenty or so
feet from him, another plan comes to mind and the beast’s
