The Chess King IV

Rooks' Crumble

Immediately, his eyes went to the spot where the rooks should be. There wasn't anything. The room was well lit, there were no shadows, no wind, nothing. He had an uneasy feeling. The hair on the back of his neck is raised. "Was that movement?" he asks squinting. The stonework of the walls starts to move. From the wall where the rooks should be, step two stone man-like creatures. They were eight feet tall and 400 pounds. Red eyes stare at him and the creatures say "CRUSH HIM!". Rooks are powerful pieces in strength and have long-range movement. Although they can only move horizontally and vertically they can still trap an individual rather quickly. Romeelus chooses his sword and shield. He pushes forward keeping his eyes on the ROOKS. The chess tile becomes all granite. All around him is stone and the Rooks sink into the floor.

"I've seen that before our Earth ally in the war against Belghar. I don't recall it really having a weakness. It just popped out of the ground and smashed its opponent. I have to be careful." Before he can completely finish his thoughts, one of the rooks pops up in front of him. Before he can react, the massive stone fist smashes into his nose. His nose is broken and he can taste his own blood. He swings with his sword but it bounces harmlessly of the rocky hide of his enemy. "Figures!" Romeelus states glumly. He side-steps another punch then dive rolls forward as he senses the other rook nearby.

An attack he does not expect comes at him. A wave of rubble five feet high approaches. He manages to backflip over it but he is snagged in mid-air by a stony hand. He is slammed to the ground. While getting up, he plants his feet firmly on the ground. The one rook still has his arms and he can sense the other rook behind him. "I'm dead meat," he manages to say. With bone-jarring impact, the rooks collide together crushing the bounty hunter between them. Tired and sore he collapses to the floor while the broken ribs start to irritate him. He thinks about his mission and why he is here. "I can't fail Sasha!" A flashback of what happened in the battle against Belghar reminds him of what he has become, and Sasha has accepted him regardless. Closing his eyes he wills the change to take place.

Instantly he grows to nine feet tall. A tail grows. The rooks advance on him expecting to crush him again. Romeelus lets his tail swing and one rook is sent flying backwards from the mighty blow. The other rook manages to maintain his balance and stays rooted to the floor. "How can I prevent them from disappearing on me again?" He then laughs as the solution is so simple. Opening his mouth, he lets loose his acid attack. It streams onto the floor and quickly starts eating away at anything it comes into contact with. The rook rooted to the floor has no escape and the lava-like flow of acid eats away at the rook. It manages a scream until it finally has no mouth to scream. The other rook on a safe part of the floor gets to it feet in time to get a shield bash in the face. With the new strength of the bounty hunter, the rook is pushed back. Before it can respond Romeelus' fist punches into the rook. Repeatedly he continues his punching, With one last strong effort, he finds a weak spot. The rook shatters like a crystal. Romeelus runs to the exit as the floor keeps being eaten away by the acid. The lizard-like man calms himself down until he becomes his original size again. He gives a last look at the last tile as it is dis-integrated.