Star Warden 3: CC. Chapter 3

 3

“Put another log on the fire!” Two minotaurs threw a young elven maid screaming into flames while the third one laughed.

An albino Minotaur with baleful red eyes. His name is Ahrimus. He was older than his compatriots. A survivor of the great Minotaur Horde. But he was just a lowly warrior back then, now he had his own clan. That clan was putting Cullen's Hand to the torch. Which was somewhat against his orders. But he had a reason to bend the rules.

When his clan attacked the town someone yelled to fetch the Star Warden. Ahrimus decided to burn the town in order to lure him out. He had a score to settle with Samuel Bailey, an old score. A score he is not aware of yet, but Ahrimus would make sure he was. His communication link beeped.

“Clan Master! He's he.” A guttural noise followed then the link was severed confirming the Minotaur's death.

“Warriors! Send me his location then stand down. I want to deal with him.” Ahrimus ran across the town and saw his target. The Star Warden in that garish blue armor with a white and gold cape.

“Warden!” The human turned to him. “Face your executioner!”

“Better men, monsters, and machines have tried!”

“They lacked the personal touch. Time to repay your father's debt!” A phantom of acidic burns flared behind his artificial eyes.

“If you thought you could take my dad in a fight you were already blind. He just made you aware of it!”

The Minotaur drew his ax and charged. Slamming headfirst into an invisible force field conjured by the Warden's talisman. The Warden himself took advantage of the surprise sending a stream of thermal energy from his ray gun. Fires ignited or expanded near Ahrimus who responded with an energy shield to block the flames and return fire.

The Star Warden evaded his fire with his rocket boots, moving like an Olympic figure skater. Keeping his distance he fired another blast from his ray gun freezing the Minotaur's ax and arm in place. Ahrimus chanted words quickly causing dark runes to appear on his weapon. The ice shattered and he quickly surprised the Warden with a parry then slapped him with his backhand hard enough to send him to the ground.

“You're not the only one with a magic weapon!” The ax glowed with a malicious aura and he slammed it down with great force. Chunks of dirt and stone flew everywhere but it missed its target. Dawnbringer and the enchanted ax clashed, energies of dark and light, Celestial and Abyssal. Pushing against each other for dominance, though Sam knew his weapon was stronger he had to hold back.

But he didn't have to hold back too much. He kicked the Minotaur's face launching a blast of heat from his rockets. The Warden planted a grenade on his chest then kicked off his body to getaway. Ahrimus was flung back from the force of the explosion and thrown into the flames. While he was not a fan of kicking someone when they were down. The Warden didn't hesitate in blasting Ahrimus with some of Dawnbringer's magic. Any rubble still intact was annihilated by the resulting inferno.

The Warden moved to either slay or drive off the remaining Minotaurs. Kaguya would use her command of the winds to kill the oxygen for the flames. The only part of the town that was mostly intact was the Summer district. Thanks to Kaguya playing defense. Ahrimus still lived but barely, only bits and pieces of his skin remained on his body. It was due to medical nanomachines that let him cling to life and sheer willpower that allowed him to crawl to his hovercraft and flee.

The townspeople choose to stay and rebuild. Sam and Kaguya offered to help but they declined as a way to thank them for saving their lives. Sam gave them some emergency medical supplies and food from his horse before leaving.

“Well at least it wasn't a total wash right?”

“Do not blame yourself. Despite the unintended interruption, I had a wonderful time.”

She hugged him, her understanding flowing into him.

“You deserve so much more,” He thought. She accepted the best he could do. He wanted his best to be so much better. “I'm tired of Daimos being an excuse for not being better.” Even if it is an acceptable excuse. He didn't like having excuses for not being his best.

“Darling,” Kaguya said in a somewhat stern tone of voice. “Do. Not. Blame. Yourself.” She gently pinched his cheek. “I am truly happy that we were able to do most of what you had planned. Until Daimos is stopped events like this will happen. But that does not speak ill of you. In fact, it speaks very well of you, willing to do what you need to do despite poor circumstances.”

“I wonder what I ever did to deserve you,” Sam said. He wrapped his arms around her. “Thanks, Sunshine."

Chapter 4

Chapter 2