Leftover Levels Up - Part IV: A Scent of Danger - Nostrel Attacks!

   Leftover and Hypnorc continued their sprint through the castle corridors, thoughts of Willy and Anti-Hero in their minds as they raced onward. They thought about their last two obstacles to overcome in order to reclaim the royal castle of Prosperity. At the end of the corridor they found a new wooden door made of silver. They entered the door and found themselves in what appeared to be an outdoor area in a vast open field. In the distance stood another silver wooden door. Approaching the pair from the direction of the door was a well built man wearing a white muscle shirt and black jeans.

   "Ah, let me guess.... your world's version of Nostrel, right Hypnorc?" Leftover asked.

   "That's right." Hypnorc said in amazement. "Can you tell me what the version from your world is like?"

   "I haven't met him yet, but my version back home is also a staunch ally of Hugh. He can fire lasers out of his nostrils, and can also make t-shirts grow out of the ground. Strange powers, fitting for a weirdo with a name like Nostrel."

   "That lines up with the Nostrel approaching us here, but ours can also encase himself inside a giant floating nose that retains the laser firing power from its nostrils. The giant nose is fully organic, yet impossible to break somehow. I am pretty sure he would be safe from my hypnosis abilities when in this form, which will result in brute strength being the only potential method of survival. Fortunately, I have that in spades."  

   "Hypnorc, what are you suggesting?"

   "Leftover, I want you to proceed to the finish line where Hugh himself is. Take out their boss, and I will handle this one while you do so."

   "Are you sure? A big impregnable nose and the ability to block your hypnotic talents sounds like a bad match up. I had to rescue my world's Hypnorc from our inferior version of Nostrel, so I don't have a great feeling about this (back in Leftover's debut - https://theprose.com/post/401577/the-true-naughty-listers)."

   "Boss, I'm different from your world's Hypnorc, I have a plan for taking him down! Proceed onwards and put an end to the one responsible for everything! And believe in me while you do so!"  

   "Very well, if you are confident that you can win, then I will trust this freak to you, Hypnorc."

  "Ha, so you think Nostrel is a freak, but an orc that can hypnotize people doesn't faze you!" Hypnorc laughed. "Thanks boss, I won't let you down!"

   Leftover smiled at his ally, then sprinted ahead to the door as Nostrel reached Hypnorc. Hypnorc was going to try to ensnare his foe quickly with his hypnosis power, but Nostrel leaped in the air and formed a giant nose around himself.

   "You shouldn't have let your master go ahead without you, as your mind tricks won't be able to reach me within here." Nostrel jeered. "Please tell me what your amazing plan is Hypnorc!"

   "Sadly you're right, I lied to Leftover to send him on his way towards your boss. Even if I can do nothing here, he will at least not be held up by you!"

   "So a meaningless sacrifice? How pointless! Your friend will need all the help he can get against Hugh, yet all of you stayed behind to deal with us separately. It's all so pathetic! No wonder your king was overthrown and assassinated so easily."

   "You bastard!" Hypnorc screamed as he leaped at the floating nose and slashed at it repeatedly with his claws. Despite the ferociousness of his assault, Nostrel's snout fortress didn't have a single scratch on it.

   "Those claws could leave a mark on a lesser foe, but not me. Now let me show you what a real attack consists of."

   A barrage of lasers flew out of the massive nostrils. Hypnorc dropped and rolled around the field to avoid them all. T-shirts then emerged from the ground and bound Hypnorc tight.

   "The only downside of this power is having to recharge the lasers in this form. But these shirts will keep you from going anywhere while I prepare to finish you off."

   A cloud of smoke suddenly surrounded Hypnorc. The orc was gone once the smoke cleared, replaced by two women in black dresses. Both had laser guns in their hands, each pointing them at Nostrel.

   "No surprise to see you here Anti-Hero. But Janet? I didn't expect you to betray us."

   "The only traitor here is Hugh, who has strayed far from the path of heroes that he once had us all on!" Janet cried out. "Why don't you join us on the right side Nostrel? It would be nice to fight alongside you again as heroes!"

   "I am loyal to the boss, and the boss alone!" Nostrel bellowed. "Now tell me, where did that pathetic goblin go?"

   "He went ahead to help Leftover." Anti-Hero smiled. "You did say he would need all the help he could get against Hugh, right?"

   "It doesn't matter." Nostrel hissed. "My lasers will be recharged soon enough, and I will gladly dispose of the two of you instead!"

   "Thank you Nostrel! It’s just what I wanted to hear! I love to hear things that will never happen!"

   "Hypnorc?" Nostrel hollered. "How did you get under my stronghold's nostrils?"

   "I may not have been able to hypnotize you, but thanks to Janet and Anti-Hero, I was able to do the next best thing, distract you. While they were chatting, I snuck under you as you focused on them. They even loaned me these really nice laser guns. I wonder how it would feel if I fired them directly up the nostrils of your fortress? Shall we find out?"

   "No, please don't!" Nostrel screamed before it was too late. Hypnorc fired multiple shots from both laser guns directly into the giant nostrils, causing the massive nose to explode. Hypnorc ran out of the way to avoid the flaming remnants as they fell from the sky. He stood by Janet and Anti-Hero as they watched what was left of Nostrel burn to ashes.

   "Thank you both for cutting me free of those t-shirts, for loaning me the guns, and for the diversion too!" Hypnorc said gratefully. "So Janet, does this mean you're officially on our side now?"

   "Yes, I will do all I can to help you guys take your country back from Hugh. And I will continue to work alongside you all afterwards as well." Janet said with a smile.

   "Well it's good to have you with us, Anti-Hero especially missed you." Hypnorc grinned, as Anti-Hero beamed from ear to ear. "Y'know, there is one thing that Nostrel jerk was right about. Leftover will need all the help he can get against Hugh. Let's head through that door and catch up with him. Hopefully Willy managed to stop Kirk and Serenity, and is on his way too!"

To be continued....