Maccoi's Last Mistake (Save The Sacrifices)

Wearing her white t-shirt and desert camouflage shorts with tan books and desert cloak, Leona walked briskly through the desert. On her back was her backpack. She had taken out the extra clothes in order to fit four gallon-sized containers of water. They were heavy, but so was a casket. The blonde opted to err on the side of caution and carry plenty of water... the slaves would need some when they were freed.

The guild hall was not very busy at the moment, so she took another freelance job to get more Jewels to save for a decent weapon. This job had more action than carrying a letter and was a lot less messy than cleaning stables. She was going after a slaver named Bladdi Maccoi. Her job was to defeat him and rescue the slaves he was taking to an unknown destination.

Leona almost laughed when she saw where she was going. She was going to Desierto. She never thought that she would be going back there so soon after being exiled. As long as she did not approach her home village everything would be fine. The chief specifically exiled her from the village, not the region.

Leona paused when she saw a series of footprints so close together that the makers might have been shuffling. She was on the right track. She continued to follow them, noticing that the sun was a few hours from setting. She had better hurry. Maccoi had a considerable head start and the blonde needed to close the gap before he got away.

She kept traveling until she spotted a young woman with waist-length blonde hair lying on the sand. She had shackles on her hands and feet... she was one of the slaves! Leona started running over to her when suddenly the ground gave way. She screamed and fell forward into sticky sand. However, it was not quicksand.

Quicksand did not form whirlpools. This had to be the work of a mage. But where were they? Leona attempted to scramble out of the sandy vortex, but her hands and feet were trapped. She slipped beneath the surface and felt the kind of despair she had not felt since the incident that gave her acrophobia shortly before she lost consciousness.

-One hour later-

Leona woke up with an enormous headache. Someone was pouring water on her face. Leona bolted upright and came face-to-face with the blonde-haired young woman from earlier. She recognized her. She was from Leona's village!

"Leona? Is that you?" The young woman asked. She had blonde hair and blue eyes and a thin body type. She wore white robes and sandals and nothing else.

"Yeah." Leona answered wearily.

"I'm Whitney. Remember me?" She asked again.

"Yeah, I remember you. Where's your sister Erica?" Leona asked. A young woman with waist-length brown hair, blue eyes, and a thin body type popped up.

"Hi Leona! Long time no see!" Erica enthusiastically exclaimed. Leona was confounded. How could Erica be so cheerful right now? All of them had shackles on their hands and feet with a chain connecting the foot irons to one another. This was NOT how Leona expected things to go.

[Word Count: 531]

"We were sent on a mission to get medicine for the chief. He's not doing very well." Whitney started.

"Unfortunately, that fat guy captured us and put us with six other young women from all over Earthland." Erica chimed in as six other young women of various hair and eye colors appeared. Suddenly the fat guy in question appeared and backhanded both Whitney and Erica. The other young women backed away lest they too be hit. Leona's eyes narrowed. It was Bladdi Maccoi!

"I am your master now! You will treat me with respect!" An obese man wearing burgundy robes with gold trim and a golden necklace shouted at them. Leona frowned. That was strike one.

"You. You'll make a fine addition to my collection." Maccoi said to her, his rancid breath blowing into her face. Leona recoiled at the assault on her nose. It smelled like Maccoi had been eating what she had shoveled at the stables in Hosenka. Maccoi took offense and punched her in the mouth, making her bleed. That was strike two.

"I'll teach you some respect in our short time together. Now get up! GET UP!" He screamed, slapping Leona until she struggled to her feet. He hit her five times in all, each slap hitting her right in the face. Once the blonde was on her feet, he strode off with her backpack in his hands. She took a quick look at the sky. The sun was just about to set.

She would endure the harsh treatment a bit longer for the sake of the other girls. Maccoi would get his. The blonde swore it. Off she shuffled with the other prisoners. As soon as the sun set, she would break loose and return everything that was owed.

-Two hours later-

Leona learned some of the names of the other girls. A redhead with green eyes was named Lila and she came from Hargeon Town. Another redhead with blue eyes was named Serena and came from Capital Crocus. A black-haired girl with green eyes was named Marisol and came from Oak Town. The other two girls were twin sisters who had brown hair and brown eyes and also came from Deseirto, although from a different village than the one Leona, Whitney, and Erica came from.

They had been forced to go at a brisk walking pace in the scorching sun. The strain of walking in the sun and trying to keep up with the others eventually got to Erica. She collapsed onto the sand and struggled to move. Maccoi plodded over to her with a container of Leona's water. He opened it and spoke to the girl.

"Your friend brought plenty of water. You want some?" Maccoi asked. Erica weakly nodded. Maccoi poured out the water in front of her, then threw the empty container into her face and laughed as the brunette feebly pawed at the wet sand in a vain attempt to get water. Leona had only wanted to beat him up before. Now she wanted to murder him... slowly.

Leona could see the moon rising. As soon as it was fully in the sky, it would be time to act. The obese man's chains would not save him from what was to come.

"Leave her alone!" Whitney shouted. Maccoi dropped Leona's backpack near Erica and plodded over to her sister. He knocked her down with a forceful slap, then kicked her in the ribs with dark brown leather boots. Whitney screamed as he kept kicking her until she began to cry. The sadistic slaver laughed as he planted a boot on the side of her head and pushed Whitney's head into the sand.

The man fancied himself their master. He was sadly mistaken. He would not live long enough to learn from the experience.

[Word Count: 634] [Total Word Count: 1,165]

Leona watched with growing fury as Maccoi slowly waddled over to her. She was ready to kill him now. The moon was beginning its ascent. She already felt the power boost taking effect. Now it was time to get his undivided attention.

"Hey Maccoi, what's taking you so long? It'll be sunrise by the time you get here!" Leona taunted and laughed. Maccoi quickened his pace and stared at her with beady brown eyes. Then he drew his hand back and slapped her. Leona laughed. He was playing right into her hands.

"DON'T YOU LAUGH AT ME!" He screamed. He seized her by the shirt collar and punched her in the mouth. The unmistakable copper taste of blood filled her mouth. Leona turned to the side and spit out blood. He was furious with her.

"You hit like a girl! My mother could hit harder than you!" Leona egged him on. He roared in fury and punched her in the face. Leona fell backwards onto the sand. Despite the pain, she managed to laugh partly because it made him angry and partly because he was oblivious to what was coming next. Perfect.

"Leave Leona alone!" Whitney shouted at Maccoi. He grunted and turned away from the supine Leona and went back to Whitney, resuming the beating that was interrupted earlier. Leona's teeth clenched as her friend was being beaten.

"Do... do something, Leona!" Erica cried out.

"Hey Maccoi! Why don't you pick on someone your own size? Or are you afraid of me? Are you worried that your chains won't save you?" Leona taunted. She heard a grunt... the taunting did it. The wind began to blow. Leona felt even stronger than before. That power boost would make knocking all the teeth out of his mouth even easier.

Leona stood up and spit the blood from her mouth. She began to flex her arms and legs and clench her fists, making a show of trying to break them. Maccoi began to gloat.

"You're just wasting your time, girl. Those chains can't be broken. The sun must have fried your brain earlier!" Maccoi smugly stated. Leona continued to make a show as he drew closer. He was halfway to her with both hands formed into fists. He was clearly intent on teaching her a lesson.

Leona doubled over and made one last bid for freedom. She stretched, strained, and raised her arms skyward. Maccoi laughed as he got within arm's length of her. Leona smiled as she pulled her wrists apart and broke the chain separating them. He stepped back and gasped as Leona broke the chains binding her ankles, the broken links tumbling to the ground.

"How? They were forged from solid iron! Solid iron that I paid good Jewels for! How could you break them?!" Maccoi asked, his beady eyes wide with fear.

"You made several mistakes that led up to this moment, Maccoi. You don't look very bright, so I'll make it easy for you to understand. Now pay attention." Leona started while walking towards him.

"First, you joined the slave trade. Second, you kidnapped all those innocent girls. Third, you took me as a slave. Fourth, you abused my friends." A fuming Leona listed the reasons that gave her the will to break his chains, counting with her fingers for his benefit. She left out the fact she was a mage. He would learn that the hard way.

"Here's the last reason. It's also the most important one. You want to know what it is?" Leona inquired.

"W-w-what is it?" Maccoi asked, sweat pouring from his forehead. He was obviously used to being in control. Without his chains or his magic to protect him, the slaver was nothing.

"YOU PISSED ME OFF! THAT WAS YOUR LAST MISTAKE, MACCOI!" Leona shouted before backhanding him. The obese man staggered back, clutching his face in shock. Now was the time for revenge.

[Word Count: 652] [Total Word Count: 1,817]

Maccoi staggered back from the backhand, his wide eyes looking directly into Leona's own. He soon recovered his bluster and strode to meet her with clenched fists. He raised one and swung, but Leona easily ducked under it. She countered with a straight to the face, knocking the large man onto his back. He jumped up and began waving a hand in a circle while muttering an incantation.

The sand vortex was forming under her feet again, but this time Leona was ready. She quickly ran past the edge of the vortex, channeled magic into her hands, leaped into the air, and flung eight tennis ball-sized balls of wind towards him. All eight made contact, pummeling the slaver in the stomach and face, knocking him down again. The girls began cheering for Leona.

"Don't celebrate just yet! I'm not done with you!" Maccoi shouted defiantly. He then stood up, muttered another incantation, and burrowed beneath the sand. Leona was stunned by how quickly someone like him could move. She had to watch out. Where was he going?

Leona felt the sand to her left explode as Maccoi rocketed out and punched her in the face, then grabbed her left wrist while she recovered. He began punching her in the stomach, landing three unanswered hits as she ducked down to grab her knife concealed in her right boot. He landed two more punches on her back by the time she stood up. He drew back his free hand to slap her when Leona thrust the knife into the palm of his open hand and pierced completely through it.

Maccoi screamed and clutched his bleeding hand as Leona withdrew the blade forged by her brother. Leona then hit him with a Crescent Wave spell, sending a crescent of air his way. The screaming man was knocked flat onto his back by the spell. He went quiet for a moment. Then laughter filled the air.

"You IDIOT! You just doomed them all!" He screamed as he raised his bloody hand into the air and closed his eyes, then muttered an incantation. A black pillar of light shot upward from his body. Soon he opened his eyes and laughed at Leona.

"You doomed them all! Every one of them! When they die, it'll be all your fault!" He said to her.

"How?" Leona asked.

"They weren't meant to be slaves. That was never the point. Well, they would still serve, but not in the way you think. They were meant to serve as SACRIFICES!" He revealed.

"Sacrifices? For who?" Leona asked again.

"Lord Mutara! He's on his way and there's nothing you can do! Giving my life will open the portal for him to return to this world!" Maccoi answered as the pillar of light intensified. He then began to smile widely while he stretched his arms above his head. Blood poured from his mouth, but the man managed to smile as deep, disturbing laughter came from within him.

"Lord Mutaru will feast on your souls!" Maccoi declared before coughing up blood. His face changed back to a calm smile while blood gushed from his nose. What was he up to?

"LORD MUTARA, PLEASE ACCEPT MY FINAL GIFT, MY FINAL GESTURE OF DEVOTION! TAKE MY LIFE SO THAT YOU MAY COME INTO THIS WORLD!" Maccoi shouted with nearly religious fervor before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell over backwards, the pillar of black light fading away. Once the sand settled from the impact, he did not move again. Leona saw that he died with a twisted smile on his crimson-stained lips. She raced over to his corpse, wiped off the knife on his robes, and quickly began searching for the keys to the shackles. She found the keys on a large ring in the man's pocket and flung them to Whitney, who caught them with a shaking hand.

"Free yourselves! Hurry!" Leona shouted as another black pillar of light formed beside Maccoi's lifeless body. Leona quickly ran away as a humanoid shape emerged from the light, which then faded. She was faced with a tall, tan-skinned man dressed in elaborate burgundy robes with gold trim and dark brown leather boots. The wardrobe was like Maccoi's, but in much better condition. Was he Lord Mutara?

[Word Count: 716] [Total Word Count: 2,533]

The man looked down at Maccoi's corpse. He sneered and casually nudged it with the toe of his boot. Then he turned his attention to Leona and the captives.

"Maccoi was an idiot. He was as ignorant as he was greedy. Still, he was a useful idiot. He allowed me to enter the physical plane to take what is mine." He opined to Leona, who put away the knife. She sensed that it would not be enough against the stranger. She would need a stronger weapon. The Blade of the Goddess should do the trick.

"Who are you?" Leona asked him.

"I'm Mutara. But my proper name is Lord Mutara." He answered with condescension. Leona should have known. Maccoi's last spell was a success after all. His golden eyes focused on her. She was not sure what to do.

"You. You're a stronger mage than Maccoi ever was. His spells were nothing but cheap parlor tricks that could amaze only children and the simple. You have much more potential. Since I'm looking for strong servants, I'll make this offer once." Mutara spoke in a tone that implied he was doing her a favor.

"Join me. Become my servant. Allow me to take those maidens as sacrifices and I will grant you what you seek." Mutara made his offer. Leona looked at him. She looked back at the girls struggling to free themselves. It was not a hard choice to make. They were counting on her to save them.

"No. I'm here to save them, not to hand them over to you. Besides, you can't give me what I want." Leona firmly refused the "offer."

Leona had several reasons for refusing. First, she doubted that he would keep his word even if she submitted. Second, she was not going to sell out the innocent for her own gain. Third, bargaining with dark powers was a terrible idea because the "deals" tended to backfire in the most ironic and horrific of ways. Fourth, she could not look her family in the face if she resorted to making demonic pacts to be able to return home.

"No desire is beyond my power to grant. Forget those worthless girls. Serve me well and you will be granted many gifts." He offered again.

"No." Leona firmly repeated her refusal.

The blonde would undergo adversity and become strong without infernal shortcuts, even if doing so meant that returning home would take longer. She would not accept Mutara's lopsided offer and he knew it. Mutara's face and demeanor changed after her refusal.

"No? Then you will die with them!" He bellowed before teleporting in front of the captives and raising a glowing hand towards Whitney. A black ring formed around Whitney's neck and she began to levitate in the air. A scream was choked off as her hands flew to her neck.

"HELP HER!" Erica urged Leona. Mutara's attention was fixated on the helpless blonde in front of him and not the angry blonde behind him. Leona channeled magic into her hands, then leaped into the air and used Air Burst. All eight balls of wind hit Mutara, breaking the spell on Whitney and bringing Leona his undivided attention. That was exactly what she wanted.

"Hey! Over here!" Leona shouted. The magical being huffed in annoyance and teleported in front of her. His golden eyes narrowed.

"If you wanted my attention, now you have it. But you'll regret your insolence. I'll make sure of it!" He bellowed in anger while glowing black. Leona was ready. She would defeat Mutara before his reign even started and make sure that the captives got out of Desierto safely.

[Word Count: 608] [Total Word Count: 3,141]

"My power hasn't been fully restored. I'll have to make do with what I already have. But what I have is enough to defeat you!" Mutara smugly declared with folded arms.

Leona was not impressed.

"But enough talk. Now it's time to teach you a lesson!" Mutara stated before disappearing. Leona was puzzled as to where he went. Seconds later he punched her in the face before fading away with a chuckle. She recovered and was soon rewarded with another punch and a mocking laugh as he vanished. He was fast.

But she had a plan. Leona raised her fist into the air and formed a miniature tornado. The next time he came in for a punch he would get a nasty surprise. Leona waited. Soon Mutara materialized in front of her with a malevolent grin and towards her.

He was only an arm length away when she dropped to the sand and punched it. An expanding dome of wind erupted. Leona was slugged in the face, but Mutara's fading yell indicated that he was sent flying. A huge dust cloud was kicked up where Leona used her Storm Impact spell.

Ignoring the pain and the gritty taste of sand in her mouth, Leona raised her hand and called upon the Blade of the Goddess. The shimmering silver blade appeared and she clutched it tightly. The dust cloud was beginning to dissipate. She saw a glowing humanoid shape firing beams of black light into the cloud. Now was the time to act.

Leona waited until the shooting stopped, then rushed out and caught Mutara by surprise. He gasped as she slashed him across the right arm and across the stomach, cutting his robes. He darted away backwards while firing more beams with his right hand, hitting Leona in the left shoulder with one of them. Mutara chuckled.

"You're smarter than I thought, mortal. It's a pity that you chose not to serve me. I could have used someone like you." Mutara mockingly lamented while forming a claw with his right hand. Leona watched him. He was a big talker, but his magic was strong.

"But I can't let defiance go unpunished." Mutara said before disappearing again. Leona was looking for him when she felt a WHOOSH behind her. She turned around and Mutara struck with three dark claws, slashing her across the right arm. Leona screamed as he faded away with a smile.

"LEONA!" Whitney cried out. Mutara appeared in front of her with a glowing black hand. The blonde fearfully backed away.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Erica shouted as she slapped a pair of leg shackles onto Mutara. He turned around and laughed. He disintegrated them with one hand, then grabbed Erica by the throat. His eyes met hers.

"Such a foolish gesture. You can't restrain my power with mere iron." Mutara mocked her before raising his free hand, which was glowing black. He placed it on Erica's face and began chanting. The brunette screamed as the other girls began throwing rocks at him in a vain attempt to make him let go. Leona had to hurry.

[Word Count: 518] [Total Word Count: 3,659]
(Blade of the Goddess: Active for Post 1 of 3)

Mutara looked in the direction of the sacrifices and laughed off the feeble assault of small rocks being thrown at him. It was such a foolish gesture that it was not even worth defending against. He focused his attention back onto the screaming brunette in his grasp, raising his hand and drawing a pale blue substance out of her mouth. Her soul was almost his. It would take only a few more seconds.

Leona rushed in and performed a leaping chop with the Blade of the Goddess, cutting through his right wrist and removing the hand that held her friend. Mutara screamed and Erica fell to the ground, where the other girls quickly dragged her to safety away from the twitching severed hand. Now it was just Leona and Mutara.

"Damn you!" He shouted. Leona was soon upon him again. She slashed at him, but he dodged each swing and retaliated with another claw attack. Leona dodged with a big step back and Mutara rushed in with a flurry of punches that she deftly dodged. When he raised his hand for a downward chop, Leona performed a diagonal slash and cut him across the chest.

He did a backdash and began flinging black crescents at her. Leona dodged and weaved around the projectiles while running towards Mutara. He was on the ropes. His confidence was flagging with the loss of his hand. Now all that remained was to finish the job.

Mutara raced to meet her and attacked with the claws, striking her left shoulder. Leona screamed as her left arm went numb. He smirked and kneed her in the stomach, then slapped her in the face, sending her sprawling. Leona got to her knees, raised her fist, and created a mini-tornado in her hand. Mutara did a backdash out of range before she used Storm Impact.

"Using the same old trick? It won't work twice." Mutara chided her before laughing. Leona listened to his laughter and judged his position. She put down the Blade, channeled wind energy into her right hand, and chopped downward. She sent a Crescent Wave spell towards him. His surprised scream let her know that it had connected.

Rushing out of the cloud again, Leona charged at the surprised enemy. He fired beam after beam at her, but she did not falter. Eventually he frantically waved his hand in a circle, creating six points of light that fired simultaneously. The lights hit her in the left leg, but there was no stopping her. She laid into Mutara with the Blade and cut across Mutara's waist and chest before finishing with a cut through his left wrist when he raised his hand to protect himself.

"NO!" He shouted before Leona stabbed him through the chest. Mutara dropped to his knees and coughed up black blood. Was it over? Seconds later a pillar of light formed around him. He jerked his head up and narrow golden eyes met Leona's green eyes one last time.

"This isn't over, mortal! You're only delaying the inevitable! You've bought the world some time, but I WILL return! I swear it!" Mutara roared in defiance. Leona frowned as she walked to his side. She had had enough of his rambling.

"I'll see you then." Leona said calmly. Mutara's face changed from defiance to incredulity. He was genuinely stunned.

"What?! That's nonsense! There's no way you can live forev-" Mutara was interrupted mid-rant by the Sword cutting through his neck and severing his head. The pillar of light faded and Mutara's headless body hit the sand. It was finally over.

"You did it, Leona!" Whitney exclaimed as she and the other girls crowded around Leona. She dispelled the Sword and clutched her left shoulder. She looked towards them all.

"Is everyone OK?" Leona asked the group.

"Yeah. I'm kinda tired and thirsty." Whitney replied.

"Me too." Erica added.

"I've got enough water for everyone." Leona said. The group rejoiced as she walked to her pack and produced the remaining three gallon containers of water. The girls began to drink the water; it was the first water many of them had consumed all day. Leona sipped from her canteen. She still needed to get them all home, but they were safe.

The threat of Maccoi and Mutara was over. They would never enslave anyone gain. Leona had seen to that.

Soon the thundering of hooves sounded. A group of three dozen white-robed horsemen in tan turbans rode up to the eight girls. Leona looked wary until the twin sisters from Desierto raced up to an older man in a white turban with a gold pin featuring a topaz gem.

"FATHER!" They exclaimed. He got down from the horse and embraced them. He then turned his blue eyes to Leona.

"Be at peace, young warrior. We mean you no harm. I am the chieftain of a desert village named Regudo. You saved my daughters and prevented my worst fear from coming to pass. I am certain the families of the others will also be pleased to hear their children are still alive." He said to her. He looked up at the sky. The moon was up and the wind was blowing. It was getting rather cold.

"It is too late for us to ride to the civilized lands because they are too far and many bandits are about, but you and the other girls can be our guests for the night. We will have a great banquet to honor your bravery." He suggested. Cold, tired and hungry, the other girls voiced their agreement. Not wanting to offend a friendly desert chieftain offering hospitality, Leona agreed as well.

"Then it will be done! Come now, young warrior. Tonight we celebrate!" He encouraged Leona before eight horsemen rode up to the group and offered a ride. All eight girls accepted the offer. Their feet were sore and they were tired. Off they rode to safety and a banquet.

[Word Count: 991] [Total Word Count: 4,650]
(Blade of the Goddess has been voluntarily dispelled.)