Staring at the warrior, Tergon knew that even though his opponent didn't show it, he was nevertheless taken aback by his transformation. So this was how the cosmic pirates were able to take down millions of soldiers and battleships without ever failing - by simple evolving - no wonder the likes of Kied could never be taken down by the Feudal Order, no matter how strong and fiercely armed they came, they still weren't their match even though they came as an army, because the war was truly within and like the arena, they were war. "What's holding you back", Tergon called, "I know it's not in your nature to be the aggressor but, there is no aggressor in the arena, there's only the victor and vanquished." Charging at him Tergon made the first move, striking, his sword locked with the warrior's, the impact was thunderous, pushing Tergon's opponent backwards, sending him skidding on his knees, their metal pads exhuming sparks as they screeched. Rising to his feet, the warrior s
Tergon's sword struck like thunder and the avalanche residing within him tore out from his being, consuming the entire arena, it's burning waves made the ether quake and quiver, exhuming that explosion which swept across the distance, the storm then died away. Still, the clanging of swords, battle-axe and shield persisted, Tergon ramming furious blows upon his opponent who staggered backwards, battling to keep his balance. Swirling around, Tergon launched a kick which struck the warrior's wrist, sending his battle-axe flying into the air, ramming the warrior with his shield, the impact threw Tergon's opponent staggering backwards, with Tergon rising into the air like a soaring eagle, then goring upon his prey, his blade cut through the warrior's raised sword, burying itself into his entrails, the warrior's being faded into a burning wind of ash. Rising to his feet, armour and blade steaming, Tergon's eyes blazed, ignited with the fury of the burning seas still rising within him, it
"Seven feudal lords along with us have already broken away from the Feudal Order on the same quest for the astral city of rising light." "Norden", Rakeal intoned, "a mythical realm revered by many, the sanctuary of this age and most call it a fairytale." Slamming his empty mug on the table, the sound echoed on striking the roof of the cabin of this battleship. "Unfortunately", Rakeal continued, "there can be no sanctuary in this savage and ruthless age, there is none. Not even a stellar paradise can withstand the clutches of the imperial lords." "We are no longer alone in the quest for Norden", Rakeal's general, Zavir, reminded, "and they could be searching for the same key as us." "The Harp of Discord !" Rakeal flared, "And I was the pioneer of this, yet without any success in finding even a single trail that could lead us anywhere. We've only been roaming the cosmic wilderness and battling packs of wild cosmic beasts all these astral months !" "Maybe ther
"What do you suggest we do sir ?" Zavir inquired. "We make them", Rakeal explained, "come to us. We don't have anchors for nothing. We'll nevertheless still take an offensive stance at the start to make them take the bait." "To attack", Zavir concluded. "Precisely Zavir", Rakeal commended, "precisely", emphasizing, he continue, "Give the order to commence the assault, what's left of the last Lance Crystal can pull us through, once we've sapped enough energy from their fleet, we'll fight our way through the battlements towards any of the galaxies' eye within this vassal." Zavir's finger tapped the metal band on his wrist which erected that holographic screen of ideograms and geometric structures, rearranging them, Zavir created a configuration that transmitted the order to the fleet, initiating a head-on assault. "This is what I was all about from the beginning", Rakeal said to himself, "supreme control and total annexation, there is no other necessity as imp
Kied's eyes were firmly fixed on that holographic screen with James and Judith standing on two separate platforms surrounded by those holographic aureoles bearing those flaring inscriptions, ideograms and symbols. Equivax stood at a corner with Hypernox resting on his shoulder while Trident was sitting on his knees, antlers ever glistening and eyes burning, they all watched as Kied crafted James' and Judith's armour. Judith stared at those flaring symbols and geometric configurations, so this was what Henry had been drawing during physics class. She tried to make out their meanings, but deep down she knew it was a futile effort trying, she wasn't an alien, was she ? Staring at Kied, she marveled at how much he knew at such a young age, how could a sixteen year old boy ... "Don't think we're age mates", Kied echoed, "I'm five times older than your father." Judith felt like strangling herself, he had read her thoughts again, why did he always have to do that ? Couldn't h
"Stop yapping nonsense and let's fight", said Judith folding her sweaty palms. "A fight you want", Kied replied, "and a fight you shall get." Hypernox screeched, the sound making the floor shake, with everyone apart from Kied and Equivax, stumbling as they tried to keep their balance. A magnetic force pulled Judith towards Kied, stopping a few feet away from him. A metallic and hexagonal lift took form beneath Kied and Judith, lifting them into the air, its sides flared as a holographic screen stretched from them, stretching across a few yards it formed a circle. The same force which had drawn her previously now pushed Judith backwards, enlarging the distance between her and Kied. "I don't think you know where your weapon is.", Kied revealed. Judith searched all over her armour fervently but couldn't find anything, was Kied playing games with her ? If he was trying to ... "You're too quick to react", Kied said, "even though you're more arrogant than I am, I'
Those roars arose and echoed through the distance, shaking the depths of an already quaking astral plain. That army of charging cosmic beasts engulfed the entire cosmic horizon as they attacked this fleet of battleships and battlecarpets. Their eyes, hides, fangs and claws blazing, they were bloodthirsty and thrilled for the kill, their instincts was at its highest and they were to it, slaves to their wild and furious nature, there was no other thought which raced through their primitive minds other than the thought to devour and before them was their feast, their prey, that fleet of sailing battleships. Morgus smiled as he stared at attacking army of wild cosmic beasts, this was what these arcane realms had in store for them, astral seas who's mighty waves were capable of crushing their battleships, the barriers and burning barricades that they had to encounter on their way and breakthrough, portals capable of sapping them into their cores and scattering them across eternity,
His motion burned its way through distance and time, his sword and mace clashing with scores and at the same time sending scores falling dead, he seared his way through the enemy's ranks, that wall of halos and flames heralding him from behind burnt down the battleships, stellar tankers and battlecarpets of the foe. It was a surge of flames and steel and the barrage of armour and clanging shields rose to the peaks of skies of this asteroid, but he was beyond the limits of the present time. The vision of the atmosphere burnt its way through his armour, unveiling his face it revealed those burning eyes. Vision retracted as his swinging sword clanged, clashing with another foe, swirling around, he struck his opponent with his mace on the chest, sending him flying like a pebble int the air and crashing like a meteorite upon the earth. Bolting through the distance, his fluttering scarlet cape embroidered with the emblem of a six horned bull, cascaded like a waterfall of flames from h
PHASE ONE Rakeal who was seated on the throne had only one thing in mind, how to ensure that his campaign wasn't nipped in the bud. The feudal lords of the realm in which he had invaded as well as the emperor of this empire had already began to rally their forces to take him down. But it didn't matter anyway, this was simply a game of politics, most importantly, he had been able to find a clue about the whereabouts of the Harp of Discord. This was one of the realms which was in alignment with the entity's astral flow, which meant that they were on the right path, so why would he give up on his prize over the likes of a few cocky politicians. This war was inevitable right from the very start and it was so unfortunate for them that it was him, that they'd be dealing with. "Zavir", Rakeal summoned. Zavir's form appeared before him on his knees, it wasn't the real Zavir, just a holograph. "Bring me Destovar", Rakeal ordered. "Yes your highness", Zavir replied with the holog
PHASE ONE Standing before the five kneeling warriors at the base of this dais, Norx Hade Zex gave his order. "You must find the Dark Child of War." *** Nomad's eyes glistened with delight, watching those endless clusters of four pillars stood tall upon this marmoreal sea before him. Their cores blazing of and intense energetic sensation. These astral cadencies were indeed horrifying to the weak. But he wasn't included in that category, this was just a test to see how his strength had improved since the passing of the last Calamity. *** "What do you suggest we do general Ozar ?" The commander asked. "Just watch", Ozar ordered, "watch calmly and take note of every detail within this conflict. We must know how powerful our enemy is." *** Those moans rose from the cores of those clusters of pillars. Those stellar reverberations made the foundations of this astral plain tremble and those lightning flashes heralded the coming of these astral lifeforms. From the s
PHASE ONE His eyes opened to find himself floating in this sphere containing a blue of fluid. Staring around trying to make out his surroundings, Kied realized that his sense of sight was still blurred. "There's no problem with that", he thought, "I can still go back to sleep then." Closing his eyes, Kied drifted back to sleep. Still he could hear those voices, although he wasn't awake, he knew the persons speaking. "I saw him open his eyes just now", the female voice said. "Why didn't I notice it ?" The other voice said. "How can you see clearly through the liquid he's sleeping in ?" The female voice answered. "I thought you weren't bothered about him, why are you making a fuss all of a sudden." Even in his sleep Kied's teeth gritted themselves, these two siblings were so annoying, and the funny part was, their names started with the same letter, making it sound like the name of some fashion brand whenever they're called together, "JAMES AND JUDITH". But wha
PHASE ONE "Then who could he be ?", Ozar mused. "We can't hold back any longer", the commander warned, "else, our ships could get destroyed and the campaign will come to an end." "I already thought about that", Ozar affirmed, "then let's step it up a bit." *** Nomad watched the battleships of this army's vanguard fall back, he had anticipated something like this. Smiling to himself, he just wondered, what the hell were they about to bring forth. "What makes you so bold to stand in our way celestial being ?!" Nomad's grin widened, telepathy ! Someone must be there that has a significant amount of power, this was going to be interesting. "What makes you stand in the way of the APEX COSMA ?!" The voice questioned again. "Because I fell like it", Nomad replied. "I respect the fact that you are a powerful being like us", the voice continued, "so I'd advise you step out of our way if you don't want to get crushed." "What if I still refuse", Nomad challenged
PHASE ONE "What do you think is the matter ? What do you think is the cause ? Even as a mother, I think he has suffered enough." "I don't know why Era, I don't know why it happened this way." "But did he ask for it ? Did he ask to be born this way ? Before he left do you know what he said to me ? "I wish I wasn't born mother, I don't want to live", that was what he had told me." "Listen Era", the male voice said, "his destiny is to achieve the unthinkable, it is that void, the realm of the unknown, a dimension of flesh and thought that drives the normal and average insane. Era, Kied can't be normal, your son can't be like others, he was destined for something else, something that even I can't understand." "But this socalled destiny is driving him insane." "The heavens know why it happened this way. Many have grasped glory and fame from the universe but in the end, they never gave back, yet, they are still celebrated and idolized. While the real builders of history an
PHASE ONE "Gora" THE FATHER sighed. "He made the choice himself", Levir recalled, "his arrogance will be his downfall." "What was he thinking ?", The Father played with his beard as he sat on his throne, "even with the liberation of the DARK LORD, Kied's power's may seem to have weakened, but in reality, they are going out of control." "His EMBRYO is reacting to the reemergence of his antithesis", Levir said. "The bad part about this is that, being out of control", the Father clenched his fist, "is being without control." *** An armour used by the dark child of war during the CARNAGE OF GODS, this armour was the subterranean form of Hypernox's being. An armour who's only cause for existence was destruction and chaos, there was only one thing that could stop it's apocalyptic march and it was the ... *** "What makes you so afraid now vermin", Kied grinned, his head tilted leftwards like a drunkard and dark eyes as ferocious as a beast, "you were warned by the
PHASE ONE "I told you Levir", the being said, "that we'll one day break free from the bondage of the CELESTIAL MACE." "And just as the FATHER said", Levir replied, "we finally broke free." "These realms before us", the being in a purple garment walked to the flower vase on the pedestal at the side of this hallway, plucking a petal, he squeezed it in his palm which ignited itself into flames, "shall burn for the glory of VERECA." *** Claws and chains entangled themselves as these two beings raged and raved, their chaotic battle of enflamed madness making the earth shiver and quake beneath the destructive might of their powers. They were gods at war, the very cause of it all becoming more vague with each passing moment. "Why hold back child of war", Gora challenged, "it won't do you any good if you silence the beast in you." "Shut up vermin !" Kied sent the chains flying at its neck. Gora caught the chain, tugging at it he pulled Kied towards him, but Kied sensi
PHASE ONE "Hasn't this story gotten boring lately." "It sure has." "From the first generation, we should be expecting something better than this." "Why not spice it up a bit ?" "A bit ?" The man sighed, "I'm pushing things to the limit." *** Kied's eyes blackened as he felt those sensations run down his spine, he could feel it, he could feel them calling him, it wasn't Hade Norx Zex this time, it was them, who were they ? "Show yourself !" Kied yelled. Looking around, he realized that he was stuck in this desolate realm of darkness, a darkness that was so dense that he couldn't even see his palms. "Your life", that voice called, "your very existence, is the birth of chaos itself." "Who are you ?" Kied called. "Me ? Who am I ?" The voice intoned. "This isn't the first time you've spoken to me." Kied accused, "so tell me", he yelled, "who the hell are you !" "Are you ready to know ?" The voice questioned, "Are you ready to know the answer ? Are
His motion burned its way through distance and time, his sword and mace clashing with scores and at the same time sending scores falling dead, he seared his way through the enemy's ranks, that wall of halos and flames heralding him from behind burnt down the battleships, stellar tankers and battlecarpets of the foe. It was a surge of flames and steel and the barrage of armour and clanging shields rose to the peaks of skies of this asteroid, but he was beyond the limits of the present time. The vision of the atmosphere burnt its way through his armour, unveiling his face it revealed those burning eyes. Vision retracted as his swinging sword clanged, clashing with another foe, swirling around, he struck his opponent with his mace on the chest, sending him flying like a pebble int the air and crashing like a meteorite upon the earth. Bolting through the distance, his fluttering scarlet cape embroidered with the emblem of a six horned bull, cascaded like a waterfall of flames from h