"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 "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
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