Prologue

The Fall of Eros Virgo

The Verge of Success

Evil Wizard’s Tower

Omen Mountain

Day of the Crossover

Purple lightning fell from the ominous red and black clouds like rain. Ominous light that danced between lavender, lilac, mauve and even plum emanated from behind the towering black and gold doors at the very top of the Evil Wizard’s tower. A pervasive miasma that smelled of sweat and unwashed loins hung in the air. Every sconce burned with the unnatural purple flame that had been the only source of lighting throughout the entirety of the tower.

Five individuals marched proudly on the black and purple carpet leading up to those black doors. Armor was splattered with the acrid, purple blood of the various creatures that had attempted to stop them. Weaponry glinted in the scant light, ready to end the threat upon the land that Eros Virgo had inflicted upon the land of Ayeroscia for what felt like the hundredth time. They marched in the formation that was, by now, routine. Every movement was practiced and predictable.

When they burst through those doors with a triumphant boom, the sound they made and the scene that played could have replaced one of the countless other times that they had done so in their young lives.

The Heroes of the Hub had arrived.

“Your time has come, Eros Virgo!” bellowed the leader of the band, holding up his mighty shield. Cody Wilder glowered at the Evil Wizard from behind his trademark shield, dark blue cape billowing dramatically behind him. “We have come to stop you!”

Across the great hall of the Evil Wizard, past towering black pillars holding up a ceiling held up by buttressed adorned by scowling gargoyles and twisted demons was a tall dais that the black and purple carpet led towards. Atop the dais, the wizard Eros Virgo stood in front of his wicked dark throne. In one hand, the man who had caused so much devastation and misery all across Ayeroscia lifted an obsidian staff adorned with a crackling purple gemstone towards the young woman dressed in a fine, peach dress chained to the ground beside him.

“Not one more step, Heroes!” Eros bellowed. “I will not hesitate to hurt your dear Princess!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” bellowed Gordon the Rogue, crouching low enough that his dark green hooded cloak touched the dark carpet, almost blending in completely with it.

In front of Eros was what appeared to be a small table made of wood. Upon it were dozens of cards, each one about as big as a man’s palm. A malevolent black aura seethed out of the cards. The Wizard slammed his free hand against the table, a wide grin across his features.

“Oh but I would,” he laughed. “I kidnapped the dear Princess Penelope Angelo here specifically to delay your action.” Lifting his finger, he said, “You see, I tire of this song and dance. I come up with a scheme to obtain my greatest desire, your King takes offense to it and then sends you five to stop me. You inevitable succeed, I am imprisoned and then I always make my escape only for us to do exactly the same thing over and over again.”

“Then stop this,” pleaded Heathcliff the Healer, clutching the holy symbol that hung around his neck. His black robes trimmed with gold fluttered around him alongside the storm that raged around them. “No one needs to be hurt.”

Eros threw his head back and let out a maniacal laugh. “So naive. You think that anyone would ever be forgiven for all the time and effort we have wasted in this stupid cycle? I am half convinced that your King is purposefully allowing me to escape just so he can keep himself entertained!”

“Please heroes,” pleaded Princess Penelope. “Please do not listen to him! He is going to use those cards of his to unleash the devastating Mooltyvers Spell!”

Purple lightning exploded from the tip of Eros’ staff, striking the princess. She cried out in agony and fell to the ground. “Silence, bitch!”

“You monster!” roared Felix the Fighter, storming forward and hefting his enormous sword. His powerful frame heaved with every word. Every muscle on his lean, vascular body was outlined by the malevolent light around them. “You will pay for that!”

“I have paid enough,” snarled Eros, eyes flaring at them. “I have been denied my greatest wish for too long! Now, I shall finally have it!”

Mason the Mage stepped up behind Cody, his own staff raised. His deep blue robes lined with silver fabric glowed as arcane runes danced all over its length. “I sense great and evil magic from those cards, Cody,” he whispered softly. “The first thing we must do is separate him from them.”

Cody nodded grimly. “Give me an opening.”

The Mage nodded. “It is done.”

A blast of white flames burst from the tip of Mason’s staff, shooting straight upwards and striking one of the many gargoyles that were perched above them. The impact immediately caused Eros to switch his gaze upwards, a suitable distraction. Cody charged forward, shield raised. Felix was barreling down the hallway right beside him. Divine, golden light encased them both, cast by Heathcliff.

Eros was just about to drop his gaze towards them when a dagger came flying past both charging fighters. The blade slammed into the Evil Wizard’s shoulder and forced him to stagger back.

“No!” roared the Wizard, staggering back as his hands slipped away from the table and the dark cards sitting on them.

Cody let out a roar as he jumped the last few steps between him and the Wizard. His large, heavy, foot slammed into the wooden table, shattering it and scattering the cards. Had he been paying more attention, the celebrated Hero of the Hub would have noticed that it was not his immense weight coming to crush the Wizard that caused Eros to scream in terror. Cody Wilder was a man of many talents and one of those talents which defined him in its entirety was his role as the Hero.

And the Hero acted first.

He slammed into Eros, shield first. The impact pushed Eros back against his throne. Felix brought his massive sword down on the chains holding down Princess Penelope, freeing her. The mighty warrior scooped up the unconscious damsel and immediately began retreating.

“No!” Eros cried, blood spilling from his lips. “You fool! Why did you have to smash the table!?”

Cody reeled his head back, his thick brow furrowing in confusion. “The table?” he repeated. Turning to look over his shoulder, he watched in shock and horror as purple lightning erupted from the shattered fragments of the black table he had shattered on his way to the Evil Wizard. Magic sizzled through the air causing each of the dark cards to rise and spin ominously.

He didn’t understand what was happening. Magic was never his forte. That was why he surrounded himself with a Healer and a Mage. He was the Hero. When he saw the evil energies start to coalesce together in the space in front of him, he acted purely on instinct as the Hero.

A Hero that saved people.

Cody grabbed Eros by the collar of his robes and threw him aside. In that moment, the dark energies launched towards him, striking his back. He let out a cry of agony as he was lifted off the ground and everything went dark…

… and his cock ached for release.