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-When I was young I never understood why we hid from them, from mortals. Even the weakest warlock or witch had enough power to summon a storm that could destroy a whole city, we could defy death, our lifespan was of centuries if not more, we were all powerful, beautiful and to the mortal eternal.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGbyzIdpNj
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Myself and many others back then though that we were at the very least better if not wholly superior to the mortals. A not to small number of our generation openly considered them to be an inferior race that we should rule over, as a master rules a slave.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DwvFYCi2f
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Then came that terrifying night in the Forests of Calliope.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHIpYf9TmC
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There and then I knew why we feared mortals.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIjpXSDawe
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- Arch Bishop Philippe 'The Wise' of the Church of Hecate.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnvIlxi6PC
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Taken from the Documentary 'The Anarchy and the Peace.'187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFv1Hac5Cw
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Book 1-Ch 3-Nevermore beyond my pane187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jo9NVwA5K
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He heard it, smelled it, felt the rotten feeling that warned of its danger before he actually saw the wall of Blue flames.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONlVCGVRo1
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuEm8hQOIY
Ross did not have a deep knowledge of physics or chemistry but he knew that the more blue-ish a flame was the hotter it burned, this seemed to be Hellfire itself, this was fire so powerful that it felt like it could burn Ross's very soul.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uSwHa2adM
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But no matter the universe A is still A.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8iDrC3JlM
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And fire is still fire.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5WSIYPNMs
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And the blue flames was still fire and any fire needs oxygen, so when Ross pulled out a canister filled with Co2 the flames diminished enough for Ross to jump pass the wall of Hellfire.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0J9vEoPEh
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVYM1noUfL
Then came the beasts of the forest, more savage versions of wolves and bears, built to hunt across realms and nightmares, built to track their prey to the worlds on the other side of the mirror.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5oOZnfgFc
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Creatures that even those with magic, light or dark, would fear.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNemvCuop5
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But they are still beasts, so Ross pulls out a bag of dog treats throws at them and the dire wolves and fell bats all swarm around it, this is not the first time Ross had brought food with him in the forest.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71YWaqN9YP
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After the demonic hound affair he always came prepared and had to use his treats a few times to escape the demonic animals in the forest, and these ones where laced with sedatives.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCcoXDfbbq
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Ross was not innocent, but he drew the line at killing animal needlessly.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QzeVhcQxW
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAlQGRKcqn
Then came the fell bats, their screeches on the wind and shapes that flew in an out of the little light that Ross had on his person to see through the darkens surrounded him, forming a twister of fang and claw, wing and teeth.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjxmld843N
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These where the locust of the Demon Realm, a wave of devouring mouth that could swallow all flesh that they swept over.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAayXjgivog
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But they were still bats, still animals, and they had sensitive noses and ears.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnrJeVIqTD
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So Ross took out a canister that was filled with a substance that had one of the most foulest stenches known to man.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw955Ua3jZ
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlLvSmvxJO
The twister of flying dark creatures immediately increased the distance between itself and the scarred mortal.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkueOpEMKWS
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Then came the subsonic flute that was connected to a small hand cranked pump, with that it was too much for the ears and noses of the fell bats as they flew away.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX79WseYJ9
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mblQOqbkI
Ross fell to his knees there and then as the terror momentarily overwhelmed him to such a degree that he had to stop and recover, this temporary pause in the horrors ahead gave him the necessary time to recover.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mmzDjnfqg
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Temptation whispered in his ear there and then. Temptation to give up, go back.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n4rrRmSIk
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3occ2KzLK
Ross looked back to the path he had walked upon and he knew that all that was behind him was darkness and beasts, in front of him lie the unknown that send shivers down his spine.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bJ8886z5P
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So he continued on, despite every muscle in his body, every brain cell in his head, every fragment of his soul shouted for him to go back as the whispers continued to say the same.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzQngxO43O
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N4bhMBxrR
"I'm not stupid enough to listen to the reasoning of a crazy man, especially my own." Ross said to himself as he treated forward.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFBPX49r72
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His feet like they weighted a ton, his lungs like concrete, his vision blurry as his body reacted trying to protect him.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSVmpFMQyu
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Yet still Ross trudged on, this was the crazy things about mortals. They would march forward in the darkness, and why? Why did they marched into what seemed to be the Belly of the Beast?187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYcjuX8z5s
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They did it because it was the unknown, where untold horrors lay, but also wonders.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYVPbs5orL
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It could be the biggest mistake of his life, but also the best decision he ever made.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vsmP5HQ3T
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And as long as that small threat of hope remained. That single weak ember of a better tomorrow burned, then that ember could light a fire and even the weakest fire could banish the dark.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoWbRQ1pD8
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Some say you'd have to be mad to live like that. Fortunately Ross was.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOWZJvRw42
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So he took his heart in his teeth and marched forward.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tMm43sA7r
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So he marched forward, with each step his feet became lighter, his lungs softer, his vision cleared.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUOTXpYhPh
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX51RTvhTKG
He conquered his fear and used it to fuel his resolve.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEiQo6jKJT
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Ross walked past the beasts and now before him stood a golem made of earth and rock, with a skin so thick that no blade or bullet could pierce it.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsuoaFCI73
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Yet unlike the curse of before, or looking at the deep dark woods, or the hellfire and beast that he faced, it's not fear that grips him187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ4zf1pJFL
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVGfuVk0xh
"Turn back now or suffer my wr-" The Golems words where cut of as Ross, used not a blade or bullet, but threw a small bag of salt into the Golem's opened mouth.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsA6epQDuh
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkS10MEDr8
The Golem collapsed to its feet as Ros moved to run past the now coughing construction of rock, soil and magic, but a great caught his leg and hoisted Ross upside down.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmv2ooEMK8
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The Golem growled at him, but like before when it wasted time with words or deeds it was struck by Ross's quick counter.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoLKtE2W6I
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This time Ross threw the bell from his belt right at the Golem's face.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ7OETvz7y
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BANG.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvtFkKTGmG
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The golem let go of Ross as it cradle it's head both from the force of the blow but also from the bell's holy sound.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBY9mOHvT5
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvkX5lEmoY
Ross fell to the ground and quickly grabbed the bell and attached to it a rope that he had for climbing and then swung the bell around and over his head once to gain momentum before striking the Golem once more with the bell.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HoLYPWy8y
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BANG187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25mq5lbH2Z
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The Golem now shielded it's face and crouched down against Ross who was half the Golem's size, yet was now Ross was the one on the offensive.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5207Lbarz
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BANG187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIQ5NwUpKg
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Another blow from the whip like weapon as this time Ross aimed at the Golem's right leg, making the creatures topple down, then Ross struck again.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK0YJadq6Q
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BANG187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BAVskRsVB
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The Golem disintegrated into a flash of energy as Ross took a breather to regain his strength and vigor. His leg ached like it had been a slightly stronger squeeze away from being broken, Ross was certain it would swell like crazy and be as purple as an eggplant tomorrow.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3aRr0KVbu
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Only the painkillers he took in advance before entering the woods helped. For not he managed to avoid using the stronger ones like opioids and he hoped that the worse was behind.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2asib8A70
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A man can dream can't he?187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoUqZRZEWN
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"Needs something sturdier, perhaps a chain and something on the handle if they get into close range." Ross said out loud as he studied the whip like bell tipped weapon and it's surprising effectiveness.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzHJ6G5WcN
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When the flash dissipated in the Golem's place was a great red orb, one that Ross looked at in disbelief.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZSUPjLy5r
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"Well now, here's hoping that brute strength is the answer here." Ross said as he instinctly whipped the red orb, smashing it.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalH5Gz3bib
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Immediately in front of him a curtain of energy flashed and reformed itself like the image of waves crashing into white foam on a beach.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkNqgZvyzm
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It seemed like the forest, reality itself, was distorted in front of him as an illusion was broken.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rrFDqtidt
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And in front of him was Hexen surrounded by other witches and warlocks and standing over a bound and gagged woman, with a knife at her throat.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqPoxlk6fb
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There, Ross's closest friend, a flawed yet kind and caring person who had come to his aide many times before despite danger, stood over another ready to kill her in cold blood.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9gE5hdwuW
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Yes, truly an illusion had been broken tonight.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwIAqU4nbL
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Ross froze at that, he was tired, scared, lost in the woods, exhausted and from the brief touch of the Golem his leg was close to making him limp, only the shock of the sight before him was what made his brain ignore all of that and focus on the image of Hexen.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSjNzqgL74
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Kind Hexen, sweet Hexen, always there for him Hexen, who called him so many wonderful things and made him laugh so often, brave and noble Hexen who always rushed to protect him when this mortal was in mortal danger.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXqsCVxbTl
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That Hexen was a step away from committing a murder most foul.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWTgCeSEyi
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"Ross, there's something I have to tell you. I'm a witch." Hexen said awkwardly and gave a smile belonged on the cat that caught the canary. Which in Hexen's case was the poor struggling girl at her feet that was the same age as Hexen.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99X1zzNzMw
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Ross still speechless then and there realized why the Myr had affected Hexen for that Hexen was not just a witch, but a dark witch.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf3DKjfzk4
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A very, very dark witch. Dark enough to be affected by the Myr like full blown demons and Ross had just interrupted a human sacrifice.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6kPsuQ1ut
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Yes, an illusion was broken tonight indeed187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDMsBeW3ak
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"I always thought you to be an elf." Was his reply as a confused Hexen and the other witches and warlocks presented looked at him in surprise.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDbK7RZQz9
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"What?" She said, the knife still at her sacrifice's throat who also looked surprise by the events.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC7MbKzN87
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And with that the clock struck 3.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN14ZviRrBS
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The witching hour, a bell whip, two illusions shattered and confusion reigned supreme now.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6E7mzyeyl
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Just another night in the town of Calliope.
