Demon Lord VII - Dark Domain Read Online Free PDF Page B

finding a
live feed image of the city. Vast explosions blossomed from it in
lines of destruction that matched the trajectory of the pulses of
fire.
    “What have we
done?” he whispered.
    White light
blinded him as a massive explosion tore through the ship. Searing
heat engulfed him, and the screams of dying men reached him just
before blackness slammed down.
     
     
    Bane glanced
around as thunderous explosions came from the gate hall, and black
smoke billowed out of it. He scowled. “Infernal idiots.”
    A moment later,
the realm gate’s distant chiming reached him, its tones faster than
normal, indicating warning and urgency.
    Kayos appeared
beside him and frowned at the gate hall. “They are attacking the
realm gate?”
    “It would
appear so.”
    “They will pay
for that.”
    “You want me to
-?”
    “No, do not
concern yourself,” Kayos said. “The domain’s defences have been
triggered. The gate will close, and everything outside it will be
destroyed.”
    “Everything?”
    “Well,
certainly whatever is attacking it, and large portions of that
city.”
    “The
refugees?”
    Kayos shook his
head. “They are beyond the mountain. They will be fine. Where is
this invisible ship of yours?”
    Bane raised his
eyebrows. “It is not mine.”
    “Well, you are
the one chasing it.”
    “I have not
caught it yet, but it is somewhere over there.” He gestured.
“Moving away. They are trying to get me into their trap.”
    A second
battery of explosions and cloud of smoke came from the gate hall,
and Kayos gazed at it again. “What makes these mortals imagine they
can attack a realm gate and live to tell the tale?”
    “Stupidity?”
    “Indeed.” Kayos
chuckled. “This must be the first time mortals have attacked a
realm gate. I have not heard of it before.”
    “Is this why
you told me that I could not breach one?”
    “Partly,
although the retaliation would have been far worse if the gate had
been closed when they attacked it. The weapons were dormant, so
their reaction was slow.”
    “We must Move,”
Bane said, pointing ahead. “Over there.” When they rematerialised,
he looked up. “I think it must be right above us now. I have been
tracking it by its hum, and it is loudest here.”
    “What do you
intend to do?”
    “This ship can
defeat a dark god, so if I take it to the mid realm and instruct
them to hunt the dra’voren there, it might save me a few
battles.”
    “Good
idea.”
    Bane whipped
around as a bang, followed by a muted hissing roar, came from
behind them. A shiny metal cylinder shot towards them, a fierce
tongue of fire sprouting from its tail. In reflex, he flung a bolt
of dark power at it, and the cylinder exploded. The concussion
lifted him off his feet and hurled him into the clouds, where he
landed with a grunt, agony lancing from his chest. He lay winded,
and moments later Kayos arrived beside him and knelt. Bane
struggled to suck in air, grimacing.
    “How badly are
you hurt?” Kayos demanded.
    Bane shook his
head and raised a hand to clasp his chest. Another bang and hissing
roar came from the same direction as the first, and Kayos looked
around. A second cylinder flew at them, and the Grey God raised his
hand in a sweeping gesture. A shield of white fire shot up from the
ground, curving over them as he crouched over Bane. The explosion’s
thunderous boom hammered at Bane’s ears, and the shield flared as
it absorbed the concussion.
    Bane drew in a
breath and struggled to sit up. “We must Move.”
    “We are safe
-”
    “The trap.”
    The shield sank
back into the earth, and Kayos hauled Bane to his feet, supporting
him when he staggered.
    Bane pointed.
“Over there.”
    Kayos nodded
and released him. Bane Moved to the place he had indicated, and
Kayos appeared a few feet away, striding over to him. “Are you all
right?”
    Bane nodded.
“Just winded and bruised. I should have used a shield.”
    “You did not
know it would explode.”
    “Sometimes
attack is not the