Someone was speaking through a loudspeaker across the battlefield. It was none other than Mark Cooper. He had opened the roof of his armored vehicle and was blaring through a hand-held horn loudspeaker.Malcolm sighed and activated the communication speaker on the UNIMOG. "Go back, Mark, if you want to live…!"The Cooper patriarch scoffed with disdain. "Do you think I'm a fool? I know you're here to steal the El Medalla resources! Guess what! Arnold Hilton and I have joined forces to bring you down! Let that truth sink in!"When Mark received no replies, he went on. "You're shocked, aren't you? Cowering inside the truck? Don't worry. I'll let you escape if you ask your soldiers to drop their weapons!"Actually, the Coopers did not intend to allow the Douglas army free passage. Once the latter surrendered and were unarmed, they would rush in and kill every one of them.Silas took to the mic. "Mark, you are a buffoon! A laughing stock of Sapphire City! Wasn't humiliation at the royal ba
The pink panther bounded down the uneven forest terrain at precipitous speed. The beast’s movements were sharp and agile, and its rugged paws never missed their footing, even on steep hillsides. It weaved through dense vegetation, taking shortcuts that never existed before.Tyler was lost in his thoughts, mesmerized to ride such a majestic animal, who happened to be his newlywed wife. Suddenly, Kat stopped in her tracks. The inertia threw Tyler off her back into the air.The young man performed a mid-air flip before perching comfortably on the branch of an Alder tree.“Hey, that was incredibly rude!” he complained with crossed arms. “If you’re tired or annoyed with your rider, you could just ask him respectfully to unmount! What’s with the violence?”Kat transformed into her human form, not taking Tyler’s outburst seriously. “I want nothing more than letting my husband ride me right now,” she replied.Tyler raised an eyebrow at the double entendre. Was she hinting at consummating thei
The mind-numbing odor of smoldering flesh and clogged blood hit Tyler's nostrils. The bizarre sights were even more disturbing than the pungent smells.Hundreds of soldiers lay dead before his eyes, a scene he could only equate with war movies. However, reality hit differently with heart-rending cries of mortal suffering.Tyler's sharp eyes swept the battlefield in seconds, and he could barely recognize it. Something so devastating happened that the very geography of the area had changed. When the young man first visited, it was flat ground with dry grass interspersed with thorny bushes.Right now, it looked as if Armageddon had crashed onto Earth. Fires crackled on one end, while floods threatened to drown on another. Lightning had struck one side while the soil had upheaval on the other. It was as if all elements of nature had together rained hell on the armies.Tyler activated Athena's Insight and began scanning for Malcolm, Silas, and Dwayne. Within seconds, he located a couple of
Dwayne and Silas exchanged nervous glances. "Of course, he is real, and his power defies reason! The man summoned forces of nature with his dark magic and annihilated our armies. Our bullets and bombs were useless against the Green Monk.""We saw hell on earth today, sir," Dwayne joined in. "Pillars of lightning followed waves of floods! A storm of hailstones preceded a river of fire! Calling it a nightmare would be an understatement. Luckily, we were inside a robust vehicle and survived the attacks."Tyler nodded without emotion and looked into the distance. "I assume the Cooper and Hilton armies were totally demolished."He surveyed the remnants of the royal army. "You have over a hundred soldiers still alive. Then why are you still here? Return to Sapphire City and cherish your families.""But, sir…""I will not hear another word of argument!" Tyler thundered. "This enemy is beyond your capabilities. I will deal with the Green Monk and the Red Marauders by myself. Now get lost befo
Tyler glided over the border of El Medalla and El Abyssium, looking for a waterfall. It was the sacred location where he and Kat decided to reconvene. The young man was convinced it was a spiritual aquifer where he could recharge his energies.Even though the goddess hated being separated from her newlywed husband, she reluctantly agreed to the arrangement.Typical panthers were solitary and polygamous. It was expected that Kat, a vessel for the panther-goddess Tezcatlipoca, would have similar inclinations. However, her behavior toward Tyler was precisely the opposite.Ever since they mutually renewed the divine contract, Kat stuck to Tyler as if they were joined at the hip. When she assumed at the hill summit that the newlywed husband may reject her, she was devastated. All of this cumulatively accounted for pure monogamous behavior.Tyler imagined Kat anxiously prowling near the waterfall, waiting for her husband. The thought put a silly smile on his face. The girl was quite adorabl
The cave shuddered in response to Tyler’s violent eruption. “No way! No way this happened! I just rescued Kat! I married and swore to protect her! She cannot have died while I was gone!”The young man spiraled into an emotional crisis for the first time since stepping out of prison. It was expected since, despite all his powers, he failed to protect his own wife.Tyler dropped into the sacred pool in misery. It was supposed to be brimming with limitless mystical energy, but he felt nothing. A murder had happened within its waters, which defiled its very core, cutting off the supply.Tyler was the least bit concerned about recharging his stock. Instead, he cradled Kat’s corpse in his arms.“Wake up…” he whispered into her desiccating ears. “I’m here. You don’t need to be alone anymore.”Naturally, there was no response from the dead body. Tyler was still not prepared to give up. He felt around for her breathing, her pulse, and her heartbeat. Nothing. She was gone.Kat had been dead for
Tyler lowered his face and closed his eyes as the onset of depression hit him. He had sworn never to be oppressed by anyone or bow under bullying. The war with the Red Marauders, the Green Monk, the corrupt billionaires of Sapphire City, and finally Lazarus Briar. It was just too much.The more he tried to save people, the more trouble came for them. Perhaps Tyler was the problem? Now… devoid of energy and motivation, the young man convinced himself it was time to give up.‘Use… Me…’Tyler's eyes suddenly fluttered open as an idea hit him. It was like he received inspiration from somewhere deep. The young man had entirely forgotten he had another power source apart from mystical energy. He used it to escape the Inbetween when Max Powers abandoned him there.The mysterious energy started accumulating and building its reserves very recently. It first struck oil in Tyler when he summoned Hestia's Hearth. Sacrificing anything human increased its volume progressively.Tyler decided to refe
"Why?" was all Tyler asked in exasperation. Now, even the gods had turned against him? He was speechless. What would Quetzalcoatl gain from destroying Kat's corpse?The dragon sigil blinked continuously, reflecting the god's irate mood. "We will furnish three reasons, Tyler Grant.""First, your intentions are pure, no doubt. However, the attempts to revive the dead would only have disturbed the goddess' destined life cycles.""Second, you may have ended up preventing Tezcatlipoca's reincarnation in a new vessel.""Finally, the sacred pool was infected because of the heinous act of murder. The ritualistic cremation purified the water and reconnected its supply to mystical energy."Indeed, the pool water turned crystal clear within seconds and rippled with mystical energy. "You have three reasons to be thankful to us, Tyler Grant.""Traitor!" the young man barked. "You tricked me by promising a revival, and instead cremated Kat's body without my permission!""You are still ignorant, Tyl